Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park

A once overlooked space, the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is now an energetic hub of activity. Serving as the local Project Manager and Landscape Architect of Record, RS&H worked closely with the lead designer and City of Tampa, among other stakeholders, to redevelop this space into a new beautiful and open park.

Located along the Hillsborough River in the heart of downtown, the 8-acre park can hold over 10,000 people for events and includes a modern playground with electronic play features, a fenced dog run, and two fountains where children are encouraged to play.

During the design phase, we identified a number of sustainable solutions, including the use of reclaimed water for irrigation and drainage improvements that lower the amount of stormwater runoff. In addition, the construction team faced and overcame difficult subsoil conditions, as the site had been developed and redeveloped over the past 100 years.

The park was an essential step in expanding the city’s cultural arts district, as well as improving the livability of the city, and serves as a model for redevelopment.