Dear Friend of Downtown,
As we welcome another monumental year for Tampa’s Downtown, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on a few key projects and initiatives from 2018 that truly highlight the successes, challenges, and growth our organization has experienced this past year.
The holiday season is especially magical for the Tampa Downtown Partnership as manager of Winter Village at Curtis Hixon Park, presented by Tampa Bay Lightning. Now in its third year of operation, a record number of skaters and passersby enjoyed this outdoor skating rink experience that includes waterfront dining and holiday shops featuring local merchants. This installation continues to evolve year-over-year. This past year we added a 360-degree choreographed light display paired with holiday music and sand sculptures providing additional photo opportunities to make our friends and family want to visit our beautiful Florida winter. Our Downtown has become the place for residents and guests to create their holiday memories and we look forward to making many more in the coming years.
Also this past year, the Tampa Downtown Partnership expanded the Special Services District (the “SSD” or “District”) boundaries to include portions of the Tampa Heights neighborhood. This expansion marks the first change in the District’s boundaries since it was created in 1994. In response to the growing needs and opportunities in Downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods, the Partnership held community meetings and round-table discussions with key stakeholders to address the specific and unique needs of the emerging neighborhood. We’re extremely proud to serve the Tampa Heights neighborhood and to support its emerging urban character.
The Tampa Downtown Partnership staff, Board, and Executive Committee are all dedicated to continuing with the visions set forth in our strategic initiatives of responding to city center growth and expansion, transportation and circulation in Downtown, maximizing public space experiences, and the positive placement and continued relevancy of our organization. We couldn’t do our work without their support and that of our partners at the City of Tampa and surrounding communities.
With an enhanced focus on the business community, the Partnership will offer more events and opportunities for meaningful discussions regarding development, economic growth, and the future of Tampa’s Downtown. Advocacy will play a larger role this coming year as we face a Mayoral election and new legislative session. As a proactive leadership organization representing business, residents, and merchants, the Partnership is committed to serving as a catalyst to facilitate positive change and the development of public policies that improve the collective Downtown community.
I’m honored to work with a talented and extremely devoted staff and together, we look forward to working with you all to shape a Downtown Tampa that will continue to shine for current and future generations.
Sincerely,
Lynda Remund, SHRM-CP President and CEO Tampa Downtown Partnership
