The City of Tampa is cutting the ribbon today on a beautiful, new South Tampa park and playground.
The space, formally South Dundee Park, but called Butterfly Glade Park by the neighbors, covers about half an acre. It includes multiple play structures: a pendulum swing, a climbing net, a balance log, and balance posts.
"We built a brand new park from nothing," Mayor Jane Castor said. "And it was a great collaboration between Parks & Recreation, the Green Team, Mobility, the Sunset Park Area Homeowners Association, and a devoted father, Christian Brown."
Parks & Recreation has spent nearly $700,000 here. Brown donated $200,000 to this project, which includes a butterfly garden and artwork by his daughter, Brooke, who passed away at age 18 in 2017.
Brooke, who attended Plant High School and is pictured below, aspired to be a nurse. She enjoyed working out, outdoor music festivals, and creating art. She illustrated a children's book titled "Apes, Bears, Cats."
"We want to thank Hillsborough County, for giving approval to our Mobility Department to handle the safety work on West Shore Boulevard, which is a County road," Parks & Recreation Director Ted Fowler said. "And Parks & Recreation staffers and the Green Team did much of the planting, preparation, and ecosystem improvements themselves, to save time and money."
The new park is located at 2703 S Westshore Boulevard.
