kiley’s gardens – what trees?
I had heard about the changes afoot at Kiley Gardens (aka NationsBank Park Plaza) and the adjoining Beer Can (Rivergate) and Cube (Pavilion) buildings, but I was caught 
offguard when I had the chance to see it for myself.
I stopped in at the Lucky Dill for an excellent Cuban wrap, and even from over there I got quite a shock. The forest of increasingly sickly looking trees that used to be there have been removed, leaving only rows of palm trees that were always hidden by the crape myrtles. So hidden in fact I had to check to see if the palms were new because I never remember them being there.
Anyway, looking west from Ashley St. you can see right over the river to the glittering minarets of the University of Tampa campus.
The following week Tommy and I met for lunch at the same Lucky Dill. We both walked over to Kiley Gardens to check it out.
Frankly the place looks like the no man’s land between the trenches in World War I. Tree stumps sawn off at the ground. Turf ripped and pitted with the stone walkways shattered and tossed about. We took these photos of the devastation and saw evidence of ongoing work but I detected no real sign of what plans the 
city might have for the park.
The city has a photo of what the park looked like before the trees were cut down. The difference is shocking.
I’ll have more on the future of Kiley Park shortly.
Tags: arts, city, development, history, tampa, tax waste
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April 10th, 2006 at 2:52 pm
It’s truly a crying shame what’s happened to Kiley Gardens. I still think volunteers would do a better job of keeping up that park than the city, but then why are we paying taxes? (I mean other than paying off the debt on RayJay.)
April 10th, 2006 at 3:46 pm
I think they did that for Lights on Tampa… so people could see the CUBE building.
April 10th, 2006 at 4:54 pm
[...] kiley’s gardens – what trees? [...]
April 10th, 2006 at 8:50 pm
I walked around Kiley when I was taking a break from studying at the library. It looked like a tornado went through there. It’s really a shame.
April 11th, 2006 at 5:11 pm
TAMPAGOLD.COM has followed the ups and downs of Kiley for a long time. Our previous post at http://www.tampagold.blogspot.com tells a lot more about the recent history of Kiley and expresses our concerns about where it might or might not be going.
April 11th, 2006 at 9:51 pm
This is devastating. I was under the impression that the park would be saved and restored. From what I’ve read here and on various links, The park won’t be restored, but significantly altered. I think this park is a special place, worth every penny it would take to properly waterproof it, restore the water features, and maintain it. I have a lot of fond memories in this park. It was always an enchanted place. My friends referred to it as “trip park” because it was so surreal. I just don’t understand why the Mayor doesn’t get it that this park can be an integral asset to the art museum and riverwalk. And it should be fully restored. Tampa should take some clues from St Pete, which has a fabulous network of downtown parks. She needs to sign the hisoric designation and turn it over to people who care.
April 12th, 2006 at 3:10 pm
It looks like crap. A shame, too, because it used to be awesome there.
July 19th, 2006 at 10:17 am
[...] time purchasing a huge swath of riverfront land owned by the Gooch family near Plant City. This is one piece of the Alafia River area that the ELAPP has long been pursuing for conservation. [...]
August 30th, 2006 at 3:15 pm
What a pretty place it was- even if obviously neglected by the city of Tampa. Has anyone ever noticed that the part of the park owned by the beercan building is in PERFECT shape?
Why can’t the big portion be taken care of? I don’t understand it.
There was a group trying to do something- what happened to them?
June 28th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
[...] Kiley Park. Oooops. The city allowed architecturally important Kiley Gardens to disintegrate, then chopped down all the trees. But I don’t think DfAaCA did [...]
April 15th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I remember when I first moved to Clearwater in 1995 and someone asked me if I had been to “trip park” yet and took me there. I was awestruck at its beauty and whenever I met someone new that was always something I asked them too. I have taken many people there for thier first time and I know it is something they will always remember, just like me. I have’nt lived in the area for almost four years now and still remember how amazing the park was. It is truely a shame the park is felling into ruins. At least we will have Kapok Gardens.