I spent two weeks working in Tampa for work and one day, I managed to drive into a massive pothole…read more Four inches deep, eight inches around, a huge hole in the road. Just a really big hole. So I searched for the County's website to report such a thing. I found it easily and reported it on the website. https://service.hillsboroughcounty.org/311/roads-sidewalks/ That was Tuesday night. Wednesday morning, I got I got an email that they'd received my request. Friday afternoon, I got another email that my request was completed. I couldn't get back there to confirm, but I'm willing to believe it. Well done, Hillsborough County!

I was excited to enroll my son in PAL's Spring Break Camp. As a single parent, I truly appreciated…read morethe affordability and the opportunity for him to participate in a program led by strong members of our community. Overall, I wouldn't describe our experience as bad, but it was challenging. My son has ADHD, and during the week, I received multiple calls regarding his behavior and responses to different situations. While I understand the importance of communication, there were several instances where emergency contacts were called shortly after I missed a call, which felt a bit premature. By the end of the week, it became clear to me that the camp may benefit from additional support and training to support children with different behavioral or learning needs. I believe that with additional training or strategies for working with neurodivergent children, the experience could be more positive for both staff and families. I'm sharing this feedback in hopes that it helps improve the experience for others. I appreciate the effort the staff puts into the program and hope to see continued growth in how a variety of children are supported.

Great place for kids to come out and release all of their energy!!! We come here every Saturday…read morefor my boys football games. The fields are well kept and maintained despite the change of weather here in Florida.

Another pretty space in downtown Tampa near City Hall, this pedestrian plaza is a nice spot with…read moreplenty of shade from trees and taller buildings. It is named after Tampa's mayor from 1974 to 1979 who passed away in 2014. There's a marker here which reads: William F. Poe Plaza is named in honor of William F. Poe, Sr. in recognition of the many significant improvements he initiated in downtown Tampa during his five years of service as Mayor of Tampa from October 1974 to October 1979. For many years, the Poe family's generosity assisted educational and charitable projects with an emphasis on ethics. Bill Poe's successes in business positively affected the image and reputation of the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County. In recognition of these many contributions to our community, William F. Poe Plaza is dedicated to the ideals embodied by Bill Poe and the Poe family. Bill Poe loved being Mayor of Tampa. Dedication Ceremony May 17, 2005

As a fan of history and architecture I was delighted to spot the Munn Park Historic District while…read moreexploring downtown Lakeland. The City of Lakeland has seven local historic districts with a combined area of 1.42 square miles. The districts protect more than 1,600 historic buildings and 13 individual landmarks. The Munn Park Historic District was designated a U.S. historic district on November 3, 1997 in Lakeland, Florida. It is named in honor of the city's founder, Louisville, Kentucky businessman Abraham Munn. Munn purchased 80 acres of land that now comprises the Lakeland downtown business district. The Munn Park Historic District is bounded by Bay Street to the north, Lemon Street to the South, Florida Avenue to the west, and extends around Lake Mirror to the East. The grand entrance to the district is the Lake Mirror Promenade designed by noted landscape architect Charles W. Leavitt. This historic district covers the main business area of Lakeland and includes many original buildings dating from as early as 1902. It contains 48 historic buildings and Munn Park which was the first open space in the city. Dedicated in 1884, it is the town square in the city. The Munn Historic District is an almost exclusively commercial district. Today you can enjoy historic buildings, dining, shopping, parks, and public art in this beautiful historic district It is very pedestrian friendly. Fun fact, Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County. Last year more people moved to Polk County than any other county in the United States. The future is looking bright for this stately, historic city.

This is downtown Lakeland. It's lovely!!!…read more There are nice restaurants, a lovely walk around Lake Mirror with some landscape architecture, Hollis Gardens and the newish and fun architecturally inviting Lakeland Brewery as well as the Amtrak Station. Closer in around Munn Park there are great public art works, lots of fun and fine restaurants including Harry's, Black and Brew and Delivicious coffee spots, a Mexican place, Palace Pizza, and Fresco's bar and cafe place next to Palace Pizza. Lots to explore and enjoy. Architecture. Natahan's clothing store. Old school Gaines Geo Jeweler with retro signage. This is the all-American downtown you've been searching for. Art. Food. Architecture. Banks. It's alive. Come take a look and enjoy. Walkable.

While we were in Tampa we saw many cool public art/ landmarks. We drove by the Water Tower of West…read moreTampa and I thought it was colorful and neat. I added some pics and wanted to add it for others to see. I got on their website to read more about it. Here is some information from the website. The West Tampa water tank was built in 1954 and renovated by the City of Tampa in 2014. The City of Tampa Water Department decided to fund the repainting and repairs of the 126-foot tall water tower. They commissioned the Artistbrothers to paint the mural, which is a welcome sign into the West Tampa area. The mural resembles an oversized cigar wrapper, a way to give recognition to the area's cigar making history. In the center the words "Welcome to West Tampa" are displayed on one side and "Bienvenidos West Tampa" on the other. This project was put into effect to welcome residents and honor the history and culture of the West Tampa Community. The water tower is visible from I-275, downtown, and other areas west of the Hillsborough River." Cool place to check out

The Morgan Cigar Factory building is a striking historic structure in West Tampa. There is a…read morehistorical marker in front. The West Tampa Centro Español, Cuban Club, Carnegie Library, original Alessi Bakery, Macfarlane Building and other historic buildings are also in the area, the West Tampa Historic District.

Palm River Park is a decent enough park, but it is pretty small. It has a few basketball courts, a…read morebaseball field, a children's playground, a small gazebo, and a standalone building that was closed, but I assume that it is a community center. It has a good sized parking lot, but that is probably more for the baseball field here and there is also a baseball field across the street. I would not go out of my way to come here, but it is a pleasant enough park for the neighborhood.

This is a temporary Covid testing site through Hillsborough County offering both rapid and PCR…read moretests. They're extremely efficient and probably deserve more stars for the staff, but it doesn't feel right to be a fan of Covid testing, so three stars it is. The line is extremely long in the mornings but really dies down in the afternoon, so arrive after the rush if possible. There's a small parking lot in front of the main building and more parking across the street in the larger lot. Pre-register at the county site or scan the QR code when you arrive to register on site. You'll need your driver's license if you don't register. Masks are obviously required. Lower just below your nose, keeping your mouth covered to protect staff while collecting samples. Good luck.

The Brandon Chamber is a great organization to help you network your business…read more If your in the Brandon area consider joining the chamber. Get involved , sponsor events or join an already scheduled event .