Some ideas include a new art museum, a restaurant and an "urban beach" area.
By RICK GERSHMAN
Published June 15, 2006
TAMPA - Mayor Pam Iorio thinks downtown needs a central park, a waterfront "crown jewel" that brings residents together.
"With Curtis Hixon Park, we have a space where people can see a vision for the future," she said Wednesday. "This will be Tampa's central park."
She spoke at a forum where the public provided feedback on early design ideas for the project, which the city is for now calling Downtown Waterfront Park.
People also gave thoughts on making Ashley Drive more friendly for pedestrians.
The waterfront park is planned as the central destination in Iorio's Riverwalk project, a $40-million endeavor that would link Tampa Heights to Channelside.
Thomas Balsley's firm is designing the park, which is framed by Ashley Drive, the Poe Garage, the Hillsborough River and the Rivergate Tower.
Balsley presented three possible plans for the project. Each included a new Tampa Museum of Art and a children's museum and a restaurant that could be placed along Ashley, along the Riverwalk or elsewhere.
Numerous elements appeared in some or all of the plans, including an "urban beach" area or an "eco-garden." A couple of plans included dog runs.
Designers are considering recreational uses, perhaps a rock-climbing wall, a bocce ball court or a volleyball area.
Balsley said his plan also considers Kiley Gardens, which sits above a parking garage on the project's western edge.
"Kiley Gardens will be considered an important part" of the plan, Balsley said. "It's important, as a quiet, contemplative place."
Donald Shockey presented ideas for the Ashley Drive renovation. Shockey is a project manager with EDAW, the group that also is designing the Riverwalk plan.
Shockey said there are many ways to improve Ashley, a road he called extremely wide and pedestrian-unfriendly.
Those could include reducing the number of lanes and replacing them with broad medians, widened sidewalks or even on-street parking.
Just crossing Ashley, he said, can be "a very disturbing experience."
"The timing's messed up. Unless you run across it, you can't cross it in the allotted time. Halfway across, you feel like you're under the gun."
The city expects to post the plans on its Web site, www.tampagov.net, to allow continued feedback on the ideas.
