Tampa, Fla. – On Monday, April 19, 2021, during the Grand Opening Ceremony of the Selmon West Extension, the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) presented a check to Tampa Mayor Jane Castor for $2 million that will go towards the rebuilding of two waterfront parks on the north and south side of Gandy Boulevard near the Gandy Bridge.
Both waterfront parks were closed during the construction of the Selmon West Extension and used as a staging area for the construction crews working on the project. The construction team will restore the parks to the original condition, so the $2 million gift to the City of Tampa will allow for the enhancement and reimagining of both waterfront parks without spending taxpayer dollars.
The donation is yet another example of THEA’s commitment to improve the quality of life for the Tampa Bay community – particularly those who live and work along the Gandy Corridor.
“I want to thank the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority and in particular THEA’s CEO Joe Waggoner and the rest of my fellow THEA Board Members for this generous gift,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. “We will be able to turn two construction staging areas into waterfront parks without using any taxpayer dollars– giving future generations of Tampa residents the opportunity to enjoy the beauty that is Tampa Bay.”
“It is my honor, on behalf of the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority, to present this $2 million donation to the City of Tampa,” said THEA CEO Joe Waggoner. “THEA’s mission is to not only provide innovative, safe, and reliable transportation solutions to the Tampa Bay Area, but also to be a partner in enhancing the quality of life for all who call our community home. We are thrilled to assist the City in bringing these two waterfront parks back to life, and we look forward to enjoying the parks once completed.”
Please click here to access the photo album of the Selmon Extension Grand Opening.
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ABOUT THEA:
The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) is a public agency of the state, created by the Florida Legislature, to provide local, user-financed transportation services that reinvest customer-based revenues back into the Tampa Bay community. THEA owns and operates the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, Brandon Parkway, Meridian Avenue, and the Selmon Greenway; designed and operates the world’s first reversible all-electronic toll road; and provides over 200,000 daily travelers with safe, reliable, and financially sustainable transportation solutions. For more information on how THEA is moving transportation forward, visit www.tampa-xway.com.Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TampaHillsboroughExpresswayAuthority/
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