It was mid-day, the temperature was approaching triple digits, cloud cover was nonexistent and an undaunted, upbeat, perspiring crowd of about 100 was gathered near the intersection of West Swann and South Rome Avenues. They were an eclectic mix of public officials, community leaders, stakeholder neighbors and both print and electronic media.
Mayor Bob Buckhorn, check. A city council representative, Mike Suarez, check. Here a Linda Saul-Sena, there a Norma Gene Lykes.
They were there for something that could divert their attention from how hot it is in late June at 2 p.m. in Tampa: the formal ribbon-cutting for the new, improved–downright aesthetic–Swann Pond. That’s the retention pond that abuts a Selmon Expressway overpass.
It used to be nasty. “Ugly as sin,” recalled Mayor Bob. A Jimmy Hoffa rumor wouldn’t have seemed too far-fetched.
Now it features wrought-iron estate fencing, finials, lampposts, new sidewalks, two shaded bus shelters, nine benches, a lighted fountain and extensive landscaping after the removal of invasive plants.
“Swann Pond has gone from being an eyesore and has transformed into a true amenity for the neighborhood,” noted the mayor. “Reopening Swann Pond is an exciting day for the Hyde Park community, whose investment and commitment is what made the project possible.”
Buckhorn was being literal here. The cost of the improvements was $848,000, a sum the city couldn’t afford. Private donors, including most notably the F.E. Lykes Foundation, raised half. Then the city matched.
“This is not a government project,” underscored Mayor Bob. “It’s a community project.”
He also noted its location as a de facto entrance into Old Hyde Park Village, which has been in the midst of revitalizing its image and tenant mix. Timing is everything. Signage and banners now remind shoppers and passersby that Bartaco, Goody Goody and On Swann restaurants are on the way, as are Paper Source and Sur La Table.
“It’s a wonderful amenity that will add to the beauty of Old Hyde Park Village as well as create a wonderful synergy with our surrounding restaurants and retailers,” says Jeff Curley, director of development for OHPV owner WS Development. Indeed, after the Swann Pond ribbon-cutting, a sizable portion of the gathering ambled across the street for a neighborhood reception in the cool comfort and ambience of Irish 31.
What’s also evident, adds Curley, is the sense of community involvement.
“The Swann Pond was already in the works when WS Development bought Hyde Park Village (September 2013),” points out Curley. “To see the progress from then to now, shows us how committed the neighborhood is to the beautification and success of the community, and we feel fortunate to be affiliated and supported by these individuals.
“Although Swann Pond was a separate project, it proves that this is an exciting time for Hyde Park Village,” underscores Curley, “in that its transformation is finally taking place–and it’s a community effort.”
And there’s nothing like an Irish pub to reflect on that new reality.
And this just in: Curley says to look for another round of new-tenant announcements by the end of summer.