Channel District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Channel District
Neighborhood
Overlooking Channelside Drive from the parking garage. Foreground: Channelside Bay Plaza Background: Harbour Island skyline
Channel District Location in Florida
Country	United States
State	Florida

The Channel District is a lively neighborhood in the City of Tampa, Florida. It is located just east of Downtown Tampa. This area is known for its homes and a fun entertainment complex.

The Channel District is surrounded by water. The Ybor Channel is to its east. The Garrison Channel is to its south. A popular spot here is Channelside Bay Plaza. This entertainment area has many shops, restaurants, and places to hang out.

You'll find many cool places near the Channel District. These include the Florida Aquarium, the American Victory Museum, and Port Tampa Bay. This port is where many cruise lines start their journeys. You can also walk along the Tampa Riverwalk to reach the Tampa Bay History Center.

The Amalie Arena is also in the district. This is where the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team plays. The arena also hosts big concerts and other events. The main area of the Bay Plaza has an open space for live music. From here, you can see the downtown skyline, big cruise ships, and the Port of Tampa. There's even a Sony Giant Screen theater for movies.

Getting around the Channel District is easy. The TECO Streetcar has several stops here. Also, small electric vehicles called NEVs help connect the Channel District to other parts of Tampa. The Tampa Convention Center is right next to the district on its west side.

Living in the Channel District

The Channel District has grown a lot. In 2007, two tall apartment buildings called Towers of Channelside were finished. Many other mid-rise and high-rise buildings have been built since then. These offer lots of places for people to live.

In July 2011, Saint Leo University opened a learning center here. It's called the Tampa Education Center. This center helps adults continue their education.

More shops and entertainment spots are planned for the area. There are also plans for a new urban sports park, which will be called Madison Park. The smaller streets away from the Bay Plaza are becoming popular. They now have many new restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. The Channel District also has the Small Business Development Center. This center is part of the University of South Florida. It helps new businesses grow.

Fun Events and New Attractions

Since 2010, the Tampa Attractions Association has started a fun tradition. They color the Garrison Channel green for Saint Patrick's Day. This makes the water look like a giant green river!

A new and exciting place opened in 2018 called Sparkman Wharf. It's an outdoor food hall right on the waterfront. Sparkman Wharf offers many choices for food and drinks. It also has plenty of outdoor seating where you can relax and enjoy the views.

The Channel District has also hosted big events. For example, several official parties for Super Bowl XLIII were held here. Many famous people attended these parties.

Images for kids

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  A crowd enjoying the Channelside Complex