The redevelopment of Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park transformed a twenty-five acre park that was in disrepair, unsafe, and uninviting into a vibrant, engaging, and sustainable public space that responds to the desires of the community and the goals of the InVision Tampa plan. The park was part of a broader effort to identify the Hillsborough River as the center of downtown Tampa and revitalize West Tampa. The West Tampa Plan identified this park for investment. That plan, and the park, resulted from Mayor Bob Buckhorn’s participation as a ULI Rose Fellow. The Fellowship identified a combined need to eliminate blighted housing, upgrade public housing, restore worn infrastructure, and create the park as a catalyst for reinvestment while achieving equity for residents.

The park design included moving the seawall back into the park to bring the river closer to the people, which also created a calm cove for kayak and paddle board renters. The design included two living shoreline elements along the seawall, providing habitat for marsh vegetation and marine animals.