Last months ribbon cutting of the newly completed 5 acre Water Works Park that borders the Hillsborough River has Tampa Heights redevelopment stamp of approval. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and other city officials made special mention to the new park as an additional Tampa’s green space for all the community. The old spring site was sore eyes for the residents in Tampa Heights for decades. Now with a 7 million boost to the newly renovated park & riverfront, Tampa Heights is moving in a new positive direction. Right next to the new park is an upscale steak house remodeled and opened by famed Columbia Restaurant owners, called Ulele Restaurant, a unique multi-cultural eating experince right on the riverfront. Also across from the park is the Stetson Law School.
The Waterfront Park is a great addition to accessibility to the Hillsborough River. It is also the furthest north for the City’s 20 year Tampa Riverwalk Project which is finally coming to completion completion. The park has built numerous facilities including an outdoor music auditorium, a dog park, bridges over the spring fed creek, an open grass field for events, a waterpark full of water activities for kids . The large yellow water filled barrel unloads its contents every few minutes to kids underneath to make a big splash! In the near future an added water taxi stop and boat slips.
There is a large variety of activities for everyone. Besides picnic tables placed under wooded areas markers and statues of famous city individuals are on the trails. Pictured identification placards identify vegetation, trees and history of the river area.