Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, already a vibrant social center on Tampa's Riverwalk, gets two more tail-wagging amenities with the grand opening of new dog parks.
The City of Tampa, the Parks and Recreation Department, the Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency, and the Tampa Museum of Art collaborated on construction of dog parks at Curtis Hixon Park, across the plaza from where the museum is also undergoing a transformative renovation.
More than $1.4 million was invested in these two thoughtfully designed dog parks and other park improvements. The funds were part of the $24.75 million reimbursement grant approved by the Community Redevelopment Agency for the museum's overall expansion project.
"The Riverwalk and Curtis Hixon Park, already beautiful and welcoming, are all that and more now," Mayor Jane Castor said. "This collaborative project has delivered these fantastic new dog parks, and now the Tampa Museum can take over the old dog park, making room to expand, including a glass pier on the Hillsborough River."
The 1,980 sq. ft. small-breed dog park has been notched into the terraced landscaping beds adjacent to the palms and Four Green Fields. The 4,900 sq. ft. large-breed dog park is located on the lower elevation, closer to the Hillsborough River, and will replace a landscaped seating area.
New construction will include a four-story, 55,000-square-foot glass pier on the Hillsborough River, improvements to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, elevator access to the Poe Parking Garage, and more.