University Area

The University Area is located on the south side of the University of South Florida Tampa campus in northern Tampa, encompassing Busch Gardens and Adventure Island amusement parks. Located within the larger Uptown District, the University Area contains a mix of retail outlets, residential neighborhoods, and restaurants, along with a multitude of medical treatment and research facilities, including H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, AdventHealth, James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, and Johnnie B. Byrd Sr. Alzheimer’s Institute.

In addition, the Busch Boulevard, a major east-west corridor for the area, serves many neighborhoods. Leaders envision turning Busch Boulevard into an entertainment corridor and hope to see it transformed into an area filled with fun and enriching businesses that serve both tourists and community members.

The Safe Route to School Project for Sulphur Springs K-8 provides for safety improvements, traffic calming, and pedestrian facilities to establish a safe walking route to school. Under the Sulphur Springs Safe Routes to School Project, the City of Tampa is proposing to enhance the safety and quality of the pedestrian routes along N. 12th Street from E. Fairbanks Street to E. Yukon Street. University Square is also the focus of investment, with a Street Resurfacing Project which provides for street resurfacing within the University Square Neighborhood.

Complete Streets & Safety Improvement Projects is the area include the 30th Street project (East Yukon Street to East Fowler Avenue) which provides for roadway improvements to accommodate bicycle facilities, pedestrian refuge islands, enhanced crosswalks, sidewalks, and other safety measures. 

Flooding relief projects in the area include the Copeland Park Project, which provides for construction of a new pumping station, the NTCB 17th and Annona Project, which provides for construction of new inlets and pipes connecting to the existing system, and the NTCB 21st and Annie Pond Project, which provides for constructing a new stormwater pond and new pipes/inlets connecting to the pond.
 

1. Busch Gardens / Adventure Island – A 335-acre animal theme park and 30-acre water park, owned and operated by Seaworld Parks & Entertainment, with an annual attendance exceeding over 5.6 million combined with both parks.
2. Copeland Park – A 132-acre park offering a nature trail, freshwater pond, athletics, and a community center.
3. New Springs School – A public charter school serving K-8 grade levels, and offering STEM educational programs.
4. Busch Plaza Shopping Center – An outdoor shopping mall anchored by Tampa Furniture Outlet and Save-A-Lot.
5. University of South Florida Main Campus – Adjacent to the sub-district, USF is a global research university offering more than 200 undergraduate, as well as graduate, specialist, and doctoral-level degree programs.