Hillsborough County wants to add a lot more shade to its parks
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County-owned parks might receive more manmade shade if voters renew the Hillsborough County Community Investment Tax on the November ballot. Covered basketball courts, like this one already at the Freddie Solomon Boys & Girls Club at Nuccio Park, will be added throughout Hillsborough County if voters approve to renew the Community Investment Tax in November. Trevor Clarke knew Florida would be hot. “I have social media,” laughed the 35-year-old Michigan resident visiting friends in Carrollwood. “I see them complain.
” But he admitted to underestimating the power of the sun in the Sunshine State. On his second afternoon here, Clarke took his 2-year-old son to Carrollwood Village Park’s playground. They lasted 15 minutes before going for a swim at a friend’s nearby home. “My friends are right to complain,” he said. “We were melting.
” But they were back on a cloudy morning a few days later. “It’s more bearable,” Clarke said. “Clouds are God’s shade. ” Carrollwood Village Park and another 13 county-owned parks might receive more manmade shade if voters renew the Hillsborough County Community Investment Tax on the November ballot. Approved by voters in 1996 for 30 years, the half-cent sales tax funds capital improvement projects throughout unincorporated Hillsborough, Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City.
It is set to end in November 2026. Voters can reapprove it for another 15 years. If they do, Hillsborough has a $2. 6-billion wish list. Projects include bridge replacements, repairs to Amalie Arena and Raymond James Stadium, nine new fire stations, and stormwater infrastructure.
In all, the shade initiative would use around $8 million of the tax funds by adding shade sails over playgrounds in Progress Village, Carrollwood Village, Cross Creek, All Persons Rotary, Northdale, Apollo Beach, West Park, Sadie, and Bloomingdale parks. Plus, it would add covered structures around basketball courts at Roy Haynes, Apollo Beach, Northdale, Winston, Keystone, Egypt Lake, and Turner/Bartels parks. “There’s nothing better than to go to the park and be able to play and enjoy yourself and not feel like you’re just baking in an oven,” said Jason Mackenzie, park planner and development manager for Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation. Shade might not be as vital as the other Community Investment Tax proposals, but it is one the county envisions being celebrated by the everyday family. “We do get a lot of requests for additional shade in our parks,” Mackenzie said.
And not just from adults with kids, but veterans with disabilities, senior citizens, and anyone who wants to spend time at a county park but would like respite from the sun. “This is a great way for us to provide a better experience at our parks.