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Neighbors want linear park to act like a park

The West Tampa swath just sits there, lifeless. The parks department says neighbors should outline what they want.

By SHERRI DAY
Published July 29, 2005

Never mind that a city park sits across the street from Melvenia and Raymond Fitzgerald's house in West Tampa. Neighborhood teens would rather play in their front yard.

The Fitzgeralds' carport has become a basketball court. Teens trample their lawn in pickup football games, and neighbors seethe when stray balls hit their cars.

The solution? Develop Fremont Linear Park.

"They need to make it a real park," said Melvenia Fitzgerald, gazing at the park from her front door. "It just looks like a field, a green grass field."

No one uses the park, which has no benches, lighting or landscaping. Until recently, when city workers put up wooden posts around it, thrill seekers raced cars through it, the Fitzgeralds said. The park has been so neglected that even the city sign bearing its name is misspelled Freemont.

Last week, community leaders asked the City Council to spruce up the park at Fremont Avenue and Pine Street. Community leader Jimmie L. Gray led the charge, asking the council to provide money for park benches, a walking trail and perhaps a gazebo.

"It might was well be closed altogether because there's nothing there," Gray said in an interview. "It's up to them to design it, but anything is better than what it looks like now."

Gray would also like the city to develop a vacant strip of land on the south side of Pine Street that has become a hangout for area youth.

West Tampa already has several well-developed parks and recreation centers, including MacFarlane and Julian B. Lane Riverfront parks. But ultimately Gray said West Tampa residents fear that if the city does not improve Fremont Linear Park, it will become easy prey for developers, who could argue that the neighborhood has no interest in it.

There is no standard size or set amenities for linear parks, which usually run along roads or waterways. Other linear parks in Tampa are Bayshore Boulevard Linear Park, Nuccio Parkway Linear Park, South Davis Boulevard Linear Park, Royal Poinciana Linear Park and Jim Walters Linear Park.

Parks and Recreation Department spokeswoman Linda Carlo said Fremont was already on its radar.

"We are scheduled to put security lights in Fremont in the spring 2006," Carlo said. "Should the neighborhood want improvements, they just need to contact us and outline what they want."

Carlo said her department will likely schedule a neighborhood meeting to discuss the issue with residents. If they reach a consensus, the department could request money for park improvements, she said.

Gray's pitch also resonated with council member Mary Alvarez, who represents West Tampa.

"I'm always supportive of any park because it just benefits the kids and the community," she said. "I'll certainly go and take a look at it and see if there are any funds available."

- Sherri Day can be reached at 226-3405 or sday@sptimes.com

[Last modified July 28, 2005, 08:19:13]