Florida Redevelopment Association

Construction crews are moving in to completely demolish and replace the historic Rey Park Center in West Tampa, launching a nearly $4 million modernization project funded by the West Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).

The original facility was built back in 1955 as the centerpiece of a 1.35-acre park. Rather than patching up the aging structure, the city is tearing it down to construct a much larger, updated community center designed to serve Old West Tampa, Macfarlane Park, Bowman Heights, West River, and surrounding neighborhoods.

“This is a first-class upgrade,” said Naya Young, the CRA Board Chairwoman. “This facility and park have been a part of the West Tampa family for 70 years, so this upgrade is well-earned and will lift not just Old West Tampa, but also Macfarlane Park, Bowman Heights, West River, and other nearby neighborhoods and families.”

Out With The 1950s: West Tampa’s Historic Rey Park Center Slated For A $4 Million Ground-Up Rebuild - Tampa Free Press TAMPA, Fla. - Construction crews are moving in to completely demolish and replace the historic Rey Park Center in West Tampa, launching a nearly $4 million

The Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) put a spotlight Wednesday on its oyster restoration project along the Manatee River, a multi-month effort researchers say is already helping scientists measure how habitat work can improve water quality.

Out on the water, investigators described the site as a real-life “living laboratory,” where they’re not only placing restoration structures—but studying what happens next.

“Most people just put their reef balls and they walk away,” said Dr. Ernesto Lasso de la Vega, Principal Investigator for the Aquatic Habitat Enhancement Components on the project. “Now here we’re studying the effect of the reef balls and that is information that will be useful for other projects.”

Oyster restoration in Palmetto showing early signs of ecological recovery Out on the water, investigators described the site as a real-life “living laboratory,” where they’re not only placing restoration structures—but studying what happens next.

Pompano Beach officials and “New Downtown” master developer Rocapoint Partners unveiled the newly hired architectural team tasked with designing a replacement for the E. Pat Larkins Community Center, at 520 NW 3rd Street.

The announcement came during a “New Downtown Pompano Beach Community Meeting” at the Larkins Center ballroom, sponsored by the city and the private developer. Several hundred residents and business owners gathered to hear updates on the estimated 4-million-square-foot urban core project.

“This is a very long-term project; it’s not going to be built overnight,” said Assistant City Manager Suzette Sibble, noting that public engagement meetings will continue over the next decade.

CRA Director Nguyen Tran reminded attendees that transforming the area has been a 30-year effort. Comparing the timeline to successful redevelopments in nearby Delray Beach, Tran described the visual transformation of the area from a decade ago to today as “night and day.”

Architects for New E. Pat Larkins Community Center Introduced at “New Downtown” Community Meeting Pompano Beach officials introduce the new architectural team for the disputed E. Pat Larkins Center at a packed New Downtown community meeting.