With perfect weather, lots of enthusiasm, and plenty of financial clout looking on, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio officially launched The Tampa Riverwalk project on Tuesday, March 14, 2006. With plans to connect a 2.4 mile section of the downtown frontage on the Hillsborough River with a combination of parks, greenways, walkway, floating docks, and more, the ambitious plans offer a lot for downtown. 5 of the 21 sections are already completed with another scheduled for construction this year. For the first time a price tag of approximately $40 million was attached to the project with plans for half of that to be raised privately and the balance through various government funds and grants from every level. Dan Mahurin, President of SunTrust Bank has the main task of raising the private funds through Friends of the Riverwalk, a 501(c) 3 organization. The idea incorporates various museums, retail, residential, and recreational plans into a complete linear park that is targeted for completion in October 2010. With another Super Bowl scheduled for Tampa in January 2009, many supporters hope to see an earlier completion date. The offical launch made it clear that donations of any and every size are welcomed and encouraged as "opening the river to the people" means everyone can be involved.

City officials see the Tampa Riverwalk as becoming the main signature for Tampa, much like San Antonio, Texas's riverwalk has become. TAMPAGOLD.COM is dedicated to providing you with an incredible online resource to this project through an ongoing look at Riverwalk and its progress and impact. We believe the Tampa Riverwalk will positively change Tampa dramatically in a very short period of time. TAMPAGOLD.COM will eventually have over 100 web pages about this project, all of which will be archived on our site for you.

We have many pictures of the official launch below, but by clicking on the link to our audio and video you will be able to see and hear the speakers at the event.

To visit the official Tampa Riverwalk park, go to tampariverwalk.net. To send funds to help in the construction, send your check to: Friends of the Riverwalk, P.O. Box 173312, Tampa, FL 33672-1312.

As Mayor Iorio said in her remarks, "this is an exciting time for the City of Tampa", we think she is right!