There comes a time when you have to stop throwing good money after bad.
The City of Tampa is facing a dilemma with an expensive and underutilized fountain located under Interstate 4 between 21st and Channel.
Built in 2007 at a cost of over $1.3 million, the fountain quickly encountered problems due to the homeless population using it as a bathing area.
Maintaining the fountain alone costs the city over $100,000 annually, with additional repairs estimated to exceed $1 million.
Business owners and former heads of the Ybor Chamber of Commerce, Thomas Valley and Travis Horn, express their concerns about the wasted funds.
They believe the money could be better spent elsewhere, and it’s time to find a new purpose for this public space.
The city of Tampa is open to suggestions from the public and is considering ideas like a skate park.
However, there are limitations due to the location being situated between busy streets.
The city seeks a creative and practical solution to repurpose the area for the benefit of the community.
