(re) stitch Tampa, Tampa

Our proposed strategy is to transform the landscape into a malleable archipelago of lush, gridded urban island joined by landscape corridors, a functional urban ecosystem designed specifically for the city of Tampa and ecology of the Hillsborough River and Tampa Bay, with the opportunities of each and the limitations of neither. These living urban islands ore designed with many functions in mind. Of course they provide valuable and needed public space, but at the sometime serve the public through stormwater management, potable water use, irrigation, temperature re reduction, and air filtration … Sustainable urban stormwater drainage systems are integral features throughout the city, managing a large portion of rainwater peaks, saving costs and reducing damage to riparian ecology. These features Je specifically engineered into attractive and connective amphibian landscape. Surface parking lots Je turned into Parks-in-lots and overlaid with other uses such as tree nurseries, urban agriculture and community gardens. Buildings will be designed ex refurbished to meet sustainable building criteria. A transition from costly space consuming automobile infrastructure to more sustainable forms of transportation such as pedestrian, bike, public transport, E-mobility and car sharing initiatives is also proposed. The dominant one-way street traffic system will be made two-way where possible. A fine grid of land use patterns and variety of parcel sizes will broaden the pool of potential investors, designers and users. The connections across the downtown peninsula will be strengthened though landscaping and destinations. The identity of Franklin Street will be strengthened from its beginning at the YMCA to its end at the Boy through landscaping, urban furniture and design guidelines. The shading devices, fountains and rain gardens will serve as unifying elements and Landscape subthemes can provide variety including community garden restaurants, Teco e-mobility showcase, and pocket parks. The North Franklin Street district can be made more attractive by reconnecting it to the new Hillsborough River Renaissance Park through slight modifications to the Ashley Street ramp.

The former transportation corridors are converted into an interconnected landscape with sustainable infrastructure. The new Hillsborough River Renaissance Park, Bayshore Rediscovery Part, the Crosstown Part and Channel Side Part each have a particular identity. The new parks will re-stitch the downtown peninsula with the surrounding neighborhoods. The Riverwalk and the new Bayshore Park will become part of a network of tree lined streets, green corridors and parts. The river and boy edges will be softened and reconnected giving more space for human and habitat regeneration. The Bayshore seawall is softened creating 0 rich ecological part with piers and barrier islands that help protect the neighborhood from storm surge. The Crosstown Part harbors playgrounds, wetland nursery, solar farms and rain gardens. The railroad corridor is similarly transformed by adding regional passenger rail, cycling and a pedestrian corridor that are combined with urban agriculture and recreation uses.

The new Hillsborough River Park is the largest intervention. It reaches and connects the districts. Ecological steps will be taken to repair the river ecological system from its origin to the Bay. Education, water conservation, promoting SUDS (Sustainable urban drainage systems) and reduction of harmful emissions are important to restoring the vitality and resilience of this natural resource. The river ecosystem system is given more room and flows uninterrupted through downtown to the bay at the river level. The city fabric stretches above and connects at the bridges. These points are points of density where both systems are connected.

The park celebrates the natural and dynamic relationship between water and coastal wetland, and invites the Tampa to explore, play, and learn. The daily tidal rhythms and dry and wet seasons are experienced in the part’s rain gardens, pools and fountains. Portions of the riverwalk float with the tides, while others dive under the bridges, or provide portholes for glimpses into underwater ecosystems and renaturation measures. The part nurtures the fragile ecosystem and manages rainwater, while also defending the city from water’s more destructive tendencies. Park elements and topography are staged for storm surge protection and evacuation for more than a 400 year storm, ensuring that Tampa stays dry and safe.

On the water, the central design element in this river part is a modular floating public square bridging the left bank, University of Tampa, with the Arts District and the CBD. The floating structure is a movable seafood accommodating numerous programs and ecological infrastructure . It is a storm water storage and purification system that forms part of the water purification strategy where parallel river arms and natural edges are impossible. The locally produced plug-in elements include floating gardens, summer fountains, water instruments, swimming and educational barges. We hope these measures will help mal<:e Tampa a more livable, safe, and resilient place !hat reconnects its citizens with the beautiful environment they are privileged to share.