Big Renovations and Fixes Planned for Tampa’s Curtis Hixon Park

Tampa's Curtis Hixon Park is about to get a big makeover, according to city officials. A proposed $5 million plan aims to tackle several issues and update the park's features.

The Tampa City Council, acting as the community redevelopment agency, discussed the plan. Damaged pavers and bad drainage are major problems related to heavy equipment at events, the council pointed out.

"It's also meant to address all of the safety concerns that we have. By making it a hard surface throughout the park, we ensure accessibility to all of the amenities tied to special events. It also will adapt so that the trucks, which drive on 29 times a year to offload for the events, will not cause harm," said Ted Fowler, Director of the Parks and Recreation Department, to WFLA. "We’re reinforcing the concrete to solid concrete all around the park, whereas now, it’s a pavers system."

Beyond fixing the structures, the project will involve adding more trees and shaded areas. Lawn furniture and canopy trees are part of the vision.

"We will also introduce some lawn seating, some canopy trees, and some shade structures," Fowler added. The whole effort costs between $5 million and $5.5 million.

The proposed improvements will take about 120 days, starting around mid-May and wrapping up by September, a less busy time of year for events. This schedule aims to keep disruptions to a minimum.

Curtis Hixon Park has an interesting history, named after Tampa mayor Curtis Hixon. Originally, the spot was home to Curtis Hixon Hall, the city's first convention center, built in 1965 and torn down in 1993.

In 2010, the park underwent a $13.5 million renovation by Thomas Balsley Associates and RS&H. This update made it a central attraction next to downtown museums.

Officials want these new updates to boost Curtis Hixon Park's importance within Tampa's Waterfront Arts District. With these changes, the site will continue to draw over 600,000 visitors every year.