Wade Trim Design Phase I Unveiled

Business and community leaders joined Mayor Pam Lorio to dedicate phase one of the Wade Trim-designed 22nd Street Enhancement Project. The event took place on at the Tampa Police District III Office, located at 3808 North 22nd Street.

The 22nd Street Enhancement Project provides for pedestrian, streetscape and roadway improvements to 22nd Street from Lake Avenue to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The enhancements along the 22nd Street corridor and the two intersections of this phase include landscaping, irrigation, enhanced crosswalks, continuous sidewalk from Lake Avenue to MLK on the east side, a 10-foot multi-modal trail on the west side, improved bus stops and shelters, upgraded traffic signals, and pedestrian lighting. The improvements were constructed by R.E. Purcell Construction Inc. The $1.8 million project was funded through Gas Tax and East Tampa Tax Increment Financing funds.

During the ceremony, the Reflections of East Tampa murals and a new historical marker were unveiled. The new murals, by artist James Vann, are a part of the gathering place that was created when the district office was constructed. The historical marker was placed at Cyrus Greene Park, known for many years as the 22nd Street Park, which served as the home field for several of the semi-professional teams of the Florida State Negro Baseball League. The marker highlights their history and serves as a legacy for African-American ball players from Tampa.