The City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department will be unveiling the renovations made to Forest Hills Park with a ribbon cutting ceremony this afternoon.
Worth $4.2 million, the improvements and new features include new multi purpose courts for basketball, tennis, and pickleball, a new multi purpose sports field equipped with bleachers and goal posts, and several ADA access improvements. The new field accommodates lacrosse, soccer, football, and much more.
Additionally, the park improvements expand walkable access throughout the entire park property, providing a safer route for Forest Hills Elementary School students enrolled in our after school programming. The new fitness trail is named after Shirley Risher, who began her career with the City of Tampa in 1978 and began working at Forest Hills Park in 1986. Risher helped create the first after school program at Forest Hills Community Center in 1987.
“This improvement project is just another example of how Tampa Parks & Recreation is listening to the kinds of amenities community members want in their parks and recreation facilities,” Mayor Jane Castor said. “Through projects like these, we will continue to provide the highest level of customer service to our parkgoers and continue to focus on our tree planting goal of 30,000 trees by 2030. I extend my deepest thanks to everyone involved who helped make this important project come to fruition for our Forest Hills residents."
The Green Team planted 346 trees in the wetland conservation area, replenishing the park with valuable tree canopy. To read more about Mayor Jane Castor's strategy to plant 30,000 trees by 2030, click here.
Park improvements were made by the David Nelson Construction Co., with the support of Tampa Parks & Recreation, the Tampa City Council, and local community members.
The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. at Forest Hills Park located at 724 W. 109th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33612. Mayor Jane Castor will be joined by Council Member Luis Viera, Council Member Gwendolyn Henderson, and retired Parks & Recreation employee Shirley Risler.