dueling history

Back in October, we told you about the possible changes to Perry Harvey Sr. Park. Since we here in the Sticks love the history, we are usually all gung-ho about saving the past.  And when we think of the past, we think of a hundred years ago past.

Freed slaves settled here in 1865 and opened drugstores and restaurants. Ray Charles made his first recording here after hooking up with a local band. Men and women shared cocktails at the Cotton Club and watched Cab Calloway perform at the Apollo Ballroom. The city’s biggest race riot happened on this land in 1967.  

But that past is a hundred years old. For every one-hundred year old relic, there is also a thirty year old past.  And really, thirty years is old enough to be claimed as “history.”

Perry Harvey Sr. Park has such a double-historic past as well.  I mentioned it in passing when the news came up, but didn’t give it much depth:

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. 

It’s known as the Bro Bowl.  Apparently, the Bro Bowl is significant enough to be featured in a Tony Hawk video game, and Tony Hawk’s foundation will likely put up some grant money to keep the public skatepark alive.  Local sk8trs have been discussing the park on the SkateParkofTampa forums, and one of them even created a “save the bro bowl” website.

Times reporter Emily Nipps wrote a great piece on the persepective of the sk8trs who want to save the bro bowl vs. your traditional historian. 

Ten days later, the Tribune got to the bowl full of memories story.  The New York Times picked up the story, and says the city will likely include a skatepark in the new plans.