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Resident Says Walls 'Suffocated' Community

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By JOSE PATINO GIRONA

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 5, 2008

WEST TAMPA - WEST TAMPA - For Harold Jackson, the walls have asphyxiated the area around Fremont Linear Park.

They have created a place for people to loiter and drug dealers to hang out, and cast a pall over the neighborhood, he said.

Jackson was among about 40 residents and property owners who spoke at a meeting Monday night about the walls along Fremont Avenue that block east-west traffic on Palmetto, Cherry, Pine and Walnut streets.

The city scheduled the meeting after Palmetto residents petitioned Mayor Pam Iorio in March to tear down the wall on their street.

"The community suffocated and died once these arteries were cut off," said Jackson, who grew up in the neighborhood and owns property in the area.

He said the city used federal money to construct the 2 1/2 -foot-tall walls in 1973 to create the park from Beach to Spruce streets. A city official has said the 1.5-acre park, which has a paved path and a playground, was dedicated in the 1970s.

Resident Joyce Stevens said the area's problems are caused by drug activity, not by the walls. She and others worry that removing the walls will increase traffic and could pose a danger for children playing.

"I think we have greater issues than the wall," Stevens said. "It is the undesirable element. How do we get rid of the undesirable element? Move the wall and they are going to sit at the corner."

Karla Price, a city landscape architect, said the parks, transportation and police departments will meet to discuss residents' comments. The city will perform a traffic study and return to the community with suggestions by the end of the year.

Reporter Jose Patino Girona can be reached at (813) 259-7659 or jpatino@tampatrib.com.

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