Curtis Hixon Park Tampa landscape design

Curtis Hixon Park Tampa pictures, Florida Landscape Architecture, FL waterfront public space design, US news

Curtis Hixon Park Tampa Landscape

Downtown waterfront district renewal in Florida design by Thomas Balsley Associates, USA

Jun 11, 2010

Landscape Architects Thomas Balsley Associates Design Curtis Hixon Park In Tampa, Florida

New Public Space is “Crown Jewel” of City’s Waterfront Revitalization

Curtis Hixon Park Tampa
image courtesy of architects practice

Curtis Hixon Park Tampa

TAMPA, FL – Acting as a “front lawn” to the new Tampa Museum of Art and Glazier Children’s Museum, a new nine-acre park by renowned landscape architects Thomas Balsley Associates has transformed the city’s downtown waterfront district. Described as the “crown jewel” of Tampa, the new Curtis Hixon Park is the centerpiece of a plan for the area that fuses recreation, urbanism, culture, heritage, and entertainment, all in the city’s outdoor “urban living room” along the Hillsborough River. The firm’s bold planning and design have replaced the old museum and parking garages that blocked access to the river with a sparkling new civic park.

Curtis Hixon Park Tampa Park Tampa Landscape
images received 100610

Says designer Thomas Balsley, “Successful 21st century urban parks must balance creativity and innovation with proven recipes for design programs. For [this project], we’ve created spaces ranging in scale from large open lawns to small intimate overlooks and garden rooms, able to accommodate large or small events.” Sculpted topography includes lawn panels stepping down from the museum terraces and garden promenade; the southern edge consists of a series of park and garden overlooks and a linear park pavilion with restrooms, café, and a visitor center.

Located along the river are a contemporary play area and urban dog run which take their sculptural cues from the Museum of Art. Louver jet and mist fountains at the park’s key plazas are child-friendly displays designed to capture the public’s imagination while cooling its feet. Timber lawn “rafts,” lounge chairs, and picnic tables with distinctive swivel loungers make up the innovative array of park furniture that is critical to the park’s success and a hallmark of Balsley’s design-as-public-amenity approach.

Masses of spartina and tree groves make up a large portion of the park’s native plantings. Lawns and garden areas as well as the fountains operate on a reclaimed water system. Distinctive LED fountain pavement lights and others throughout the park extend its nighttime curb appeal and downtown activity.

More than becoming the city’s cherished space to play and celebrate, the park’s place-making powers have made it a new landmark for Tampa and re-energized the city’s sense of civic pride.

About Thomas Balsley Associates

For over 35 years, Thomas Balsley Associates has reshaped urban space around the world by designing landscapes that teem with public life. The Firm’s projects range from feasibility planning studies to built urban parks, waterfronts, commercial, residential and recreational landscapes. Scales of work range from master plans small urban spaces and urban furniture. Central to the firm’s design approach is Thomas Balsley’s belief that, “Public open spaces are the great democratic spaces, the ultimate common ground.” In New York City alone, the firm has designed more than 100 public parks and plazas including Chelsea Waterside Park, Peggy Rockefeller Plaza and Riverside Park South. Projects outside New York include Hunters Point Shipyard/Candlestick in San Francisco, West Shore Park in Baltimore, Main Street Garden in Dallas, Skyline Park in Denver, the World Trade Center Plaza and Gate City in Osaka, Japan and the Leeum Museum and Magok Waterfront South Korea.

Curtis Hixon Park Tampa images / information received 100610 from Thomas Balsley Associates (TBA)

Location: Curtis Hixon Park, Tampa, Florida, United States of America

Another American park landscape by Thomas Balsley Associates:

Main Street Garden Dallas

Florida Landscape Architecture

Contemporary Florida Landscape Architecture Designs – recent architectural selection from e-architect below:

The ArtsPark at Young Circle, Hollywood
Glavovic Studio, Inc
Florida Park
photo © Robin Hill 2007
Florida Park

Florida Marlins Ballpark Features, Miami
Daniel Arsham/Snarkitecture
Florida Marlins Ballpark
picture from architect
Florida Marlins Ballpark

Florida Architecture

New Florida Architectural Designs – key FL real estate selection:

St. Petersburg Pier
Michael Maltzan Architecture
St. Petersburg Pier Buildings
image from architects

Tampa Covenant Church
Alfonso Architects
Tampa Covenant Church
photo : Al Hurley

Tampa International Airport Expansion
Alfonso Architects
Tampa International Airport
image : Alfonso Architects

Georgia Architecture

Landscape Architecture

Florida Architecture Conference

Comments / photos for the Curtis Hixon Park Tampa Architecture Downtown waterfront district renewal in Florida design by Thomas Balsley Associates, USA page welcome.