Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park |
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Playground area and kiosk
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| Location | Tampa, Florida |
| Area | 8 acres (3.2 ha) |
| Open | Year round |
Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is a super cool 8-acre public park in downtown Tampa, Florida. It sits right along the Hillsborough River. The park you see today opened in 2010.
It's located next to many exciting places. These include the Tampa Riverwalk, the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, the Tampa Museum of Art, and the Glazer Children's Museum. You can also see the Rivergate Tower nearby. From the park, you get a great view of the University of Tampa's Plant Hall, which is just across the river. This whole area is known as the Waterfront Arts District.
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What's Fun at Curtis Hixon Park?
Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park has a large open grassy area. This lawn gently slopes down towards the river. It's a perfect spot for relaxing or playing.
Around the park, you'll find lots of fun things to do:
- Several fountains where you can cool off.
- A big playground for kids to enjoy.
- A public boat dock if you arrive by water.
- A special dog park for your furry friends.
- Shaded areas and pavilions to relax under.
- An amphitheater for performances.
- Cool sculptures to look at.
- A pretty garden area designed by Dan Kiley.
- A small snack kiosk with restrooms.
The park is surrounded by interesting buildings. The Tampa Museum of Art and the Glazer Children's Museum are to the north. Ashley Drive is on the east side. The Rivergate Tower is to the south. On the west side, you'll find the Hillsborough River and the Tampa Riverwalk.
Explore the Tampa Riverwalk
The Tampa Riverwalk is a 2.4-mile long path. It connects Curtis Hixon Park to many other attractions. You can walk or bike to places like the Tampa Convention Center and the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. There are also many hotels, restaurants, and smaller parks along Tampa's downtown waterfront.
Events and Activities
Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is a very busy place! It often hosts all sorts of events. You might find concerts, music festivals, or food festivals here. There are also arts and crafts shows and even evening yoga classes. Sometimes, they even have temporary ice skating! The park has become a very popular spot in Tampa. Many people call it "Tampa's town square."
The Park's History
Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is named after Curtis Hixon. He was a mayor of Tampa who passed away in 1956. The park is located next to where an older building once stood. This building was called Curtis Hixon Hall. It was Tampa's first big convention center. It was built in 1965.
After a while, newer buildings were built. Curtis Hixon Hall was taken down in 1993. A smaller park was then built on that spot. However, this first park wasn't used very much. It was hard to get to from the river and other parts of downtown. There also weren't many other fun things to do nearby.
A New Beginning
In the early 2000s, plans for the Tampa Riverwalk started to come true. The city made big changes to the area. They removed the old Tampa Museum of Art building. This building had blocked access to the riverfront.
Then, a new art museum and the Glazer Children's Museum were built. These new buildings are on the north side of the park. The old park was made much bigger towards the south. It was completely redesigned by a landscape architect named Thomas Balsley. The new design allows for open views from Ashley Boulevard all the way to the Hillsborough River and the University of Tampa. This amazing new park opened in 2010.
Images for kids
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Playground area and kiosk
