Tampa Riverwalk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tampa Riverwalk |
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A section of Tampa's Riverwalk along the Hillsborough River and Curtis Hixon Park
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| Location | Tampa, Florida |
| Established | 1989 |
| Open | Year round |
| Public transit access | TECO Line Streetcar |
The Tampa Riverwalk is a cool path that stretches for about 2.6 miles (4.2 kilometers) along the Hillsborough River in Tampa, Florida. It's a special outdoor space where people can walk, bike, and enjoy the views.
This path goes through downtown Tampa. It connects many fun places like Curtis Hixon Park, the Tampa Museum of Art, and the Glazer Children's Museum. You can also reach the Tampa Convention Center and Water Works Park from the Riverwalk. It links up parks, attractions, and hotels, making it easy to explore the city's waterfront. The main goal of the Riverwalk is to show off Tampa's beautiful riverfront and make the city a unique place to visit.
Contents
History of the Riverwalk
The idea for the Tampa Riverwalk started way back in the 1970s. At that time, many parts of the downtown riverfront were old buildings and industrial areas. These were mostly used for shipping because of the nearby Port of Tampa.
Early Ideas and Challenges
Tampa's mayor, Bill Poe, had a vision. He wanted to create a park and a walkway behind Curtis Hixon Hall. This civic center was one of the few public spots along the river. The city built a small part of the walkway on the east side of the river. However, they didn't have enough money to buy more land. Also, later mayors weren't as interested in the project. This caused the Riverwalk's development to stop for many years.
Bringing the Vision to Life
In 2002, Pam Iorio was running for mayor. She promised to restart the Riverwalk project if she won. She became mayor, and construction soon began. Two new parks were built near Amalie Arena, which is along the southern part of the planned Riverwalk.
As work continued, a big fundraising effort started in 2006. They aimed to collect $20 million for future parts of the project. A major boost came in 2010 when a redesigned Curtis Hixon Park opened. This park was near where the original Riverwalk section had been. Bob Buckhorn, who became mayor after Pam Iorio, also strongly supported the Riverwalk.
Connecting the Path
In 2014, a special grant from the government helped finish a $9.2 million walkway. This new section went under the Kennedy Boulevard bridge. It connected all the existing parts of the Riverwalk into one continuous path. This made the Riverwalk about two miles long.
Even more was added in 2016. The path was extended north past the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. It went under Interstate 275 and ended at Waterworks Park. This park is in the Tampa Heights neighborhood. This extension made the Riverwalk over two and a half miles long!
Public Art on the Riverwalk
The Riverwalk isn't just for walking; it's also home to some cool public art.
Historical Monument Trail
In 2012, a project began to create bronze statues of important people from Tampa's past. The Friends of the Riverwalk group helped make this happen. A sculptor named Steven Dickey created these statues.
The first six statues honored:
- Mocoso, Tocobaga, and Pohoy mound builders (early people who lived in the area)
- James McKay Sr.
- Vicente Martinez Ybor
- Henry B. Plant
- Eleanor McWilliams Chamberlain
- Clara C. Frye
Nine historians helped choose these important figures.
In April 2013, six more statues were added to the Riverwalk. These were officially shown in December 2013:
- Cyril Blythe Andrews, a newspaper owner and local leader
- Cody Fowler, a lawyer who worked to end unfairness
- Kate V. Jackson, a Tampa businesswoman, helper, and environmentalist
- Peter O. Knight, a Tampa lawyer involved in local government
- Paulina Pedroso, an activist who fought for Cuban independence and civil rights
- Garfield Devoe Rogers, a businessman and helper who created Rogers Park
Another six statues were revealed in December 2014. They included:
- Blanche Armwood, an educator and community leader
- Herman Glogowski, Tampa's first Jewish mayor and community leader
- Gavino Gutierrez, an engineer who helped develop Ybor City
- Bena Wolf Maas, a businesswoman and helper
- Hugh Campbell Macfarlane, a lawyer and developer of West Tampa
- Moses White, a businessman and community leader
Other Artworks
In 2016, the city of Tampa added a special mural under the Laurel Street Bridge. This mural is called "Woven Waves." It was created by several art groups. The mural uses a special printing technique that makes it look like it moves as you walk by. It's designed to look like a quilt, showing the river's currents and Tampa's many different cultures.
