When you think of downtown areas, you usually think of an urban setting with lots of people, multiple forms of transportation, shops, bakeries and a central park for people to gather amongst high-rise buildings.
Downtown Tampa has some of those amenities, but in many ways it is lacking a cultural community.
The Tampa Museum of Art is a recent effort in the battle against a dying downtown area. It was planned to bring in local residents and visitors and provide a place for people to congregate and host events.
But lately there are fewer people visiting the museum, partially due to ongoing construction, stop-and-go traffic and the absence of alternative activities in the area.
Despite these obstacles, which apply to the downtown area in general, it’s nice to see people’s excitement when something new opens.
People seem eager to know what is going on and what events are being hosted, but it can be difficult to live the well-rounded cultural lifestyle.
Downtown Tampa needs people who are cultured in not just business and the marketplace, but also in the arts.
A city’s culture helps develop the economy for local businesses, which can have a positive effect for citizens.
Take St. Petersburg for example: a city without great means of transportation, but that successfully draws its citizens to museums, galleries and art and music shows.
The atmosphere in Tampa’s downtown needs a makeover, but more than that, the inhabitants need to step up and put in the work to help create a stellar community.
Little things like taking your date to a romantic picnic in the park or hanging out with friends and family will significantly change the way Downtown Tampa functions.
It can create an urban setting where people gather for leisure activities versus just going to work.
We encourage everyone to go out and explore what is out there.
You may be surprised by the hidden treasures you will find and the community at large will benefit from your efforts.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who has thought that Tampa needs more culture, a flavor of its own. The only truly distinct district is Ybor, not counting the touristy flair of Channelside…Hyde Park is nice enough, but too upscale to have the patchwork of a neighborhood with it’s own personality. When I lived in St. Louis for a year before coming to school in Tampa, I was amazed by how different every neighborhood in the city proper was, yet unique in its own way. The Loop and Central West End with their indie shops and cafes, Dogtown and it’s pubs and parades, Forest Park and it’s museums, the Hill, and downtown offered a lot as well. Im sure every major metropolitan area can boast this…but.. I was sorely dissapointed in Tampa with the almost suburban sprawl feel of the area, where everything is just generic. So I will make it my mission to go out and find these gems, but I agree…let’s step it up, Tampa!