Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is set for a $5.5 million overhaul after years of festivals and large events degraded lawns, walkways and drainage systems throughout the downtown park, a centerpiece of Tampa’s Riverwalk and one of downtown’s primary public gathering spaces.
Originally designed as the focal point of Tampa’s waterfront redevelopment strategy, the 8-acre park anchors the Riverwalk between the Tampa Museum of Art and Glazer Children’s Museum with event lawns, terraced seating areas and waterfront gathering spaces designed for festivals and civic events.
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Tampa City Council is scheduled to vote Thursday on the funding agreement for the renovations, which would replace damaged paver systems with reinforced pavement built to withstand heavy event traffic while rebuilding the event lawn, terraced seating areas and drainage systems in the park’s busiest event areas. Plans also call for new shade structures and landscaping throughout the park.
City documents show Curtis Hixon hosted 34 events and 147 event days in 2023, with additional production activity damaging walkways, gathering areas and the main event lawn. CRA documents state the renovations would make Curtis Hixon a “more sustainable and desirable Special Event site.”
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