Thanks to Bob L's description, I feel like I've really missed out on being able to see the interior…read moreof this lovely structure. It's closed now to the public but this was Tampa's main library until 1968. The marker outside reads "Built with a $50,000 grant from industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, the Tampa Free Public Library opened its doors on April 27, 1917, becoming the City of Tampa's first public library. This venture was the result of a sustained community effort led by the Tampa Woman's Club adn the Tampa Board of Trade, a tax approval by citizens for annual operating costs, a 4,000-book donation by Mr. and Mrs. L.H. Lothridge, and the deciated work of head library Helen V. Stelle (1917-1947." [Review 10411 overall, 178 of 2019.]

When I first came to Tampa via USF I had to visit this classic library. It was a beautiful…read morelibrary, but too small for the booming city and in a lousy non-downtown location. I guess the people took the trolley or bus to first go here. I wish it could have a more community usage so more people can see the interior and its balconies.

Lakeland's Lake Mirror Promenade, now known as the Frances Langford Promenade, was built as a part…read moreof the City Beautiful movement that swept the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Running from from Lake Mirror Drive to Lemon Street, the promenade was the brainchild of Lakeland business leader Thomas J. Appleyard. The promenade was designed by Charles Wellford Leavitt, a student of the landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed New York City's Central Park and San Francisco's Golden State Park. The two-phase project was completed in 1928. The promenade has a beautiful balustrade with streetlamps around the half-mile perimeter of the small, oval-shaped Lake Mirror. On the west side, a large platform steps down to the water's edge and is guarded by two monumental Corinthian columns. A loggia with five arches, aligning with the end of East Main Street, is the central feature of a 540-foot-long retaining wall that is set against the tall lake bank. The promenade was a feat of engineering, as it was built into the lake. New banks were dug around the shore to create space from which water could be pumped and a wooden superstructure erected to support the concrete walkway. The original plans for the promenade included a tennis court, a new city hall, an auditorium, shuffle board, lawn bowling, and carpet golf, although many of these no longer exist. The design also included a large garden; but due to Florida's 1926 economic crash the plans had to be limited and it wasn't until 2000 when the long planned for garden of Lake Mirror, Hollis Garden was finally constructed. The garden was donated by Mark Hollis, a former president of Publix and his wife who donated one million dollars to the City of Lakeland for the garden. On January 27, 1983, the promenade was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The promenade was dedicated to Lakeland native France's Langford (1913-2005) in 1946. Frances Langford was a popular singer, radio performer, and actress in the 1930's through the 1950's. She was also a boater and fisherwoman. Langford's first singing performance was staged in Lakeland. The classically-trained opera singer had a tonsillectomy in her teens, and she retrained her vocal style to the big band type of music that was popular at the time. Langford was discovered by Rudy Vallee while performing on a Tampa radio station. She worked on the radio with Vallee, Dick Powell, and Bob Hope. Her first film was Every Night at Eight (1935) which featured her singing I'm in the Mood for Love. Her other films included Yankee Doodle Dandy and The Glenn Miller Story. In 1955 she moved to Jensen Beach with her second husband. During WWII Frances Langford worked with the USO and traveled through North Africa and the South Pacific to visit injured GI's. She became known as the GI Nightingale. Her weekly newspaper column, "Purple Heart Diary," told of those visits and urged public support for injured soldiers. Of her time visiting the troops Langford said ""The greatest thing in my life was entertaining the troops." Langford's war-related papers can be found at the Institute on World War II at Florida State University. Today the Frances Langford Promenade offers stunning views of Lake Mirror, the surrounding parklands, and downtown Lakeland as you stroll along the walkway. I love the classic architecture juxtaposed against the modern city. The promenade is home to a number of picturesque gardens, fountains, and statues, including the iconic historic band shell that hosts various events throughout the year. The promenade is especially enchanting at sunrise and sunset, when the soft light reflects off the water and creates a peaceful ambiance. The Frances Langford Promenade is the ideal spot for anyone seeking natural beauty, history, and relaxation.

Is it pronounced promenAID or promenODD?…read more ANSWER: PromenAID.. unless you're a non-pizza crust eating boogee snob. Lake Mirror (I think it should be called Mirror Lake), is the lovely aquatic heart of Downtown Lakeland and the promenade offers and architectural centerpiece to view it from on high or at lakelevel. It's the meeting of human ordered architecture (arches, columns, and stone carved into geometric order) and once natural water feature. There are birds. A fountain. A view. Reflections. Gardens. A view of the Amtrak train station, fire station and former brew pub. All lovely. Historic. There are steps right down into the water. You can walk right in.. Or across the lake if you're Jesus. Dogs chasing birds. Quacking. A nice walk. Birdwatching. Thoughts about life and travel. What's for lunch? This is a great spot for pondering the meaning of it all.

Carrying Laurel Street over the Hillsborough River in the Riverwalk district of Tampa, this is…read moreknown as both the Laurel Street Bridge and the Fortune Street Bridge. It is a Strauss overhead counterweight trunnion bascule bridge. The bridge was originally named after Madame Fortune Taylor, a former slave who became a successful landowner and entrepreneur in Tampa. She owned land on the east side of the Hillsborough River, which the city needed for bridge construction in 1892. The original bridge was replaced in 1927 with the current trunnion bascule bridge. In the late 1960s, road realignments led to the renaming of the bridge as Laurel Street Bridge, but in 2017 the City Council restored its original name to honor Fortune Taylor. A nearby historical marker provides a biography of Madame Taylor and her efforts that turned Tampa into the metropolis we see today. The Riverwalk continues underneath the bridge where you'll find an interesting artwork. [Review 333 of 2025 - 1988 in Florida - 23895 overall]

This is a nice lil drawbridge to take by car or on foot from one side of Hillsborough River to the…read moreother. On the west side it begins by Julian B. Lane Park near its dog park and River Center where there is ample parking. On the other side it reaches between the Straz and Armature Works for a nice walk on the River Walk to either. Nice river views. Also called the Fortune Taylor Bridge there is some history and markers in the area as well asnbusts of historic figures in Tamoa history. Well worth visiting lovely new Julian B. Park and crossing over the river on foot. Free parking at park too. Water views. Riverside trail for biking on both sides of the river.

The Westchase Community Association provides Residents with beautiful landscaping, a well…read moremaintained Olympic Pool, Pool Slide, & 4 Tennis Courts, off Linebaugh Avenue, Belgrave, & Parley, in the Westchase District of West Tampa. The Westchase Community Association has another Olympic pool with 6 Tennis Courts off Countryway Boulevard and Linebaugh Avenue but that pool is in use on weekdays by a swim team from 3-7pm and the pool is only open until 8pm. Luckily the pool off Parley is not in use by a swim team during the weekdays. The Westchase Community Association has 3 well maintained parks & 3 kids playgrounds. The pools are open 10:00 am to 8:00 pm year round and the tennis courts are open 8am to 9pm. The pool is heated in the winter and cooled in the summer. The tennis courts are home to recreational and USTA league play, private lessons, clinics, after-school programs, summer camps, junior and adult tennis lessons, group lessons, and tournament play. On two of the 6 courts at Countryway are 4 pickleball courts. The Westchase Community Association charges a monthly Home Owners Association fee of $384 per year for a 3 bedroom house, $324 for a 3 bedroom townhouse, and $242 per month for a 2 bedroom townhouse which is pretty reasonable. Westchase is surrounded by mature oaks on land dotted with lakes and ponds, one has the feeling of being tucked away in a pristine section of Hillsborough County but the community is far from isolated. The West Park Village retail area features restaurants, bars, and eclectic shops designed in the neotraditional style: pedestrian-friendly and densely populated, reminiscent of early-American mixed-use town centers. And Westchase neighborhoods are just a quick drive to supermarkets, popular eateries, pharmacies, and every other convenience you need. Niche.com honors Westchase with an A+ rating as the Number 1 suburb in the Tampa Bay area!

This is a nice Communuty Center building in Hyde Park Vilkage adjacent to the park, playground, and…read morebasketball courts. It's new and clean. Spacious. Architecture is in keeping with the bungalow style. The center offers a schedge of activities and is used for functiins such as voting. There's a historical marker on the side street.

The Harbour Island Lighthouse in Tampa sits inside a gated residential section of Harbour Island,…read morewhich means there is no public access unless you live in that community. No public paths lead to the lighthouse itself. The good news is that it is fully visible from Channel Drive, where you can park easily and admire it from across the water. As a visual accent on the shoreline, the lighthouse works well. From Garrison Channel or from the public walkways near the Harbour Island Bridge, you can see it rising above the waterfront homes. It adds a bit of charm to the island's profile, especially at sunset when the light softens and the water reflects the color. Up close, it's clear that this is not a traditional lighthouse and was never meant to function as one. Instead, it is an architectural flourish for the neighborhood rather than a navigational aid. It was built as a decorative landmark in the late 1980s or early 1990s, during the period when the island was being redeveloped into residential homes. [Review 28 of 2026 - 2219 in Florida - 25219 overall]

This facility is part of the City of Lakeland Parks and Recreaton…read more The LHS Class of 1972 held their 40th Class Reunion here. It's a beautiful building built in the 1920's. It has a fantastic veranda that overlooks Lake Mirror.

Recently attended a wedding here, very nice and spacious venue. Was decorated nicely with flowers…read moreand twinkle lights. Holds a lot of people. Nice views for photos! Indoor venue but has an outside patio attached.

From the early 1800s through present day, Hillsborough County has had six courthouses. Most of…read morethose structures are long gone and faded from the Tampa skyline. However, this silver dome remains. It used to sit on top of the courthouse completed in 1892, an ornate red brick courthouse that occupied an entire city block. Its architect was J.A. Wood, the same man who designed the elaborate Tampa Bay Hotel. The dome acts as a gazebo in Joe Chillura Courthouse Square which is a downtown park with the 1952 courthouse across the street. Located the northwest corner of the park, the Hillsborough County Square Pavilion feels like the quiet architectural anchor of the square, a small civic gesture that frames the open lawn and gives the space a sense of purpose even on an empty afternoon. With the park undisturbed today, it was easy to appreciate how the pavilion's understated lines complement the surrounding sculptures, with a nod to the courthouse buildings nearby, creating a calm pocket in the middle of downtown. [Review 141 of 2026 - 2248 in Florida - 25331 overall]