University of Tampa students are just a few months away from having a world-class waterfront amenity right in their backyard.
The nearly 2,000-foot section of the West Riverwalk that runs alongside the campus is currently under construction by The Haskell Company and is expected to open by the end of the year, weather permitting.
The new 12-foot-wide multi-use trail, stretching from Plant Park to Cass Street, was designed to blend seamlessly with the university’s iconic architecture. Rows of decorative brick bands along both sides of the trail mirror the look of UT’s historic buildings and the existing brick in Plant Park, while new light poles were selected to complement the campus’ existing fixtures. A small section of the original pathway, which includes stamped concrete dating back to the early 1900s, was also preserved and incorporated into the new design.
The nearly $60 million project is supported by a $24 million federal BUILD grant, along with a $10 million contribution from the West Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The City of Tampa is investing roughly $7.5 million from the Community Investment Tax (CIT) and approximately $16.8 million through future non-ad valorem bonds. Earlier this year, Congresswoman Kathy Castor also announced an additional $250,000 in federal funding for future minor enhancements to the project.