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Sneak preview will show off nearly $1M in improvements

By JON WILSON
Published April 18, 2007

A Ninth Avenue N park project worth almost $1-million will flash a sneak preview Saturday during an 11:30 a.m. ceremony.

When Booker Creek Park is completed late this year, it will offer a lighted foot path and exercise trail, new pedestrian bridges, picnic shelters, a pier for strolling and fishing, a floating fountain, benches and bike racks.

Lights already are up, said City Council member Jeff Danner, who represents the neighborhood.

"It's already getting twice the use, just having it lit up and being able to circumnavigate the lake," he said.

Booker Lake is the source of Booker Creek, which flows southeast next to Tropicana Field, through Roser Park and eventually into Tampa Bay.

The park is in North Kenwood at 2323 Ninth Ave. N. It stretches to 13th Avenue N and is between Interstate 275 and 24th Street N. Parking for Saturday's event will be available at nearby Edward White Hospital.

The project also includes resurfacing an existing playground, improving the northeast corner parking area and adding parking near the playground on the northwest corner.

New landscaping will include removal of exotics, native replanting and interstate buffer planting outside the park boundaries.

The two-phase project is costing about $907,000. Funding includes a $25,000 neighborhood partnership grant awarded to the North Kenwood Neighborhood Association, $30,000 in matching funds from Edward White Hospital, $200,000 from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program, $221,000 from Penny for Pinellas funding and the rest from the city's capital improvements budget.

[Last modified April 17, 2007, 20:05:46]