We wanted to the Memorialize on Monday, Dec 1st, friends that had past from AIDS on World AIDS Day. One of the sacred places that holds great community memories, the small but visible AIDS Memorial Park on Tampa’s Bayshore Blvd. We had thought that is would be re-opened by now! When will it open?
It is still in a ‘Temporarily Closed’ state for final construction staging and parking for the new condo community complex being built on the corner of Platt Street & Bayshore Blvd.
The park is very representative of a past dark era of suffering disease and death in the Tampa Bay Gay community. Thousands of our friends and family died of this mysterious disease. At the time the local GLBT newspaper, Gazette offered free listing of friends and family that past from AIDS.
World AIDS Day is a time to remember our friends but also a positive reminder that a cure is just around the corner. Memories are what keeps us aware of the travesty. Money donated is a way to funding research for the ending of AIDS disease. Also a reminder to so many of us that HIV/AIDS is not a final death warrant! Major concerts and events happened around the world and occurred this week in keeping AIDS awareness.
The Tampa AIDS Memorial Park opened in 2005. At that time there was controversy in Tampa City Council of having a dedicated city park named for a killing & deadly disease. The park was past.Small as we have said and visible to Tampa Bay. Benches were to be erected but the walls were for sitting. The planned dozen landscaped trees were there for the sheer beauty of nature. The stone pavement sections took in the resemblance of the famous traveling AIDS Quilts with small paver patterns mixed with large pavers across the country. Subtly quiet but persevering.
The uprooting of new construction 3 years ago had us in an alarm of disarray if the park was going to be demolished, permanently deleted or relocated from the South Tampa Bayshore location. We were told back at that time that it would be a temporary parking and staging area for the construction parking going on. To many it was like a dagger going into your body.
We were told from city officials back in 2011 that after the construction of the new construction on the Bayshore Condos, that the Memorial Aids Park would be redesigned, landscaped and re-opened. Money was set aside by Crescent Community in providing the improved redesign and shady tree landscape.
Well, we all are hoping to see the newly designed park come back soon! A re-dedication of the community Memorial AIDS Park to remember and memorialize the friends that lost their battler with AIDS should be happening.
Your Thoughts???
This is on the City of Tampa’s website about the Tampa Aids Memorial Park.
CITY OF TAMPA WEBSITE :
AIDS Memorial Park is located on the southwest corner of Bayshore Boulevard and Hyde Park Place. The park serves as a memorial to those lost to AIDS, a place of solace for those living with or affected by the disease, and an inspiration for those continuing to work for progress against HIV/AIDS. There is a circular plaza providing views of the water and a contemplative garden area with custom-colored concrete pavers laid out in a pattern reminiscent of the Aids Quilt.
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LOCATION:
102 W. Hyde Park Place Tampa, FL 33606 |
