Video: City Embarks On 5-Mile Extension Of Tampa Riverwalk

TAMPA, FL — The Downtown Tampa Riverwalk is growing. On Tuesday, Mayor Jane Castor announced Tuesday that the city is taking the next step to expand the riverwalk, connecting it to more neighborhoods west of the Hillsborough River.

Through the West River District BUILD Grant project, the city has advertised for a design-build firm to design and construct the 5-mile-long project. Once the city selects a contractor, it will develop renderings and work with the community to shape the design of the expansion, said Castor.

The $24 million BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation will pay for 80 percent of the project with the remaining 20 percent covered by the city. The city will use about $6 million in gas taxes.

Currently 2.6 miles long, the riverwalk is one of Tampa's most popular amenities, attracting 100,000 people a month.

The Tampa Riverwalk is currently in the running for a 10Best Reader’s Choice Travel Award from USA Today. After weeks of voting by readers, USA Today will announce the winners on Friday.

The additional trail will connect to West Tampa, Tampa Heights, Bayshore Boulevard, Hyde Park, Riverside Heights, North Franklin Street and Bowman Heights. The trail will go from North Bayshore Boulevard, near the Platt Street bridge, and will have some over-water segments and living shorelines.

The award will help the city close gaps in the Riverwalk at Tony Jannus Park, Plant Park and the University of Tampa, Blake High School, Stewart Middle School, Tampa Preparatory School and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center.

Included in the plans are the construction of over-water crossings beneath the Platt Street Bridge, Brorein Street Bridge and Kennedy Boulevard Bridge as well as lighting, landscaping, pedestrian railings, enhanced crossings at major roads, improved sidewalks and on-street bike facilities.

Completion is expected in December 2026.

Related: Tampa Riverwalk In Running For USAToday's Best Riverwalks

"The Tampa Riverwalk has substantially transformed the downtown waterfront into a vibrant setting, making our Hillsborough River the center of the city," said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. "The connectivity to our cultural institutions and public parks is a dynamic catalyst for economic development, community building, recreational activities and improving our quality of life."

She said the riverwalk provides relief to the big-city environment by connecting residents to Tampa's natural resources.

"The continued progress and enhancements on the existing Riverwalk combined with the future development of the West Riverwalk will serve to define and transform Tampa and add to its success as a great city," Castor said.

Castor said she doesn't plan to stop there.

Future plans include extending the West Tampa Riverfront north to Columbus Drive and west along Rome Avenue, connecting the riverwalk with the proposed Rome Yard project, a mixed-use redevelopment consisting of 17,000 square feet of commercial space, 954 residential units including apartments and townhouses, a job training center and more than 30,000 square feet of amenities.

Additionally, plans are in the works to extend the riverwalk to the Tampa Cruise Ship Terminal 2, the Florida Aquarium and the Water Street Tampa and Sparkman Wharf mixed-use developments.

The Tampa Port Authority is still discussing security, safety and liability concerns related to having public access next to the gated cruise ship terminal to make the cruise ship terminal link happen.