Stevedore and social activist Perry Harvey Sr. helped organize Tampa’s branch of the Longshoremen’s Union (Local 1402) in the early 1940’s. His son, Perry Jr. was elected Tampa’s first black councilman in 1983.
Perry Sr. died in 1972, and shortly thereafter, the city named a park after him. The 11-acre park was established in 1974 and has mainly served residents of the Central Park housing project and children registered at the city’s Kid Mason Recreation Center.
Now, the City of Tampa is wondering what to do with Perry Harvey Sr. Park. The park is located right next to Central Park Village on the edge of downtown. Skateboarders used to use the park quite a bit, and there has been talk of building an amphitheater on the property to recognize The Scrub’s musical past, but nothing has been determined yet.
Tampa Parks & Rec is getting input from the public, so if you have a good idea, get down to the public meeting at the Central Park auditorium (1000 India St.) at 10am on Oct. 14 or 5:30pm Oct. 23.
What do you think the city should do with that green space downtown?
dcdave
3 years ago
A gold statue of tommy
Ainsley Bright
1 year ago
The park should be made into a tennis complex. There aren’t any around the area, and I think you’d get a lot of people from the Channelside/Harbour Island area who don’t want to spend the lavish money on a membership to the Harbour Island Yacht Club.