Town 'N Country Area Recreation Center Improvements Planned

In 1996, Hillsborough County voters approved a half-cent sales tax increase to generate funds to construct Raymond James Stadium as well as other community projects.

The Community Investment Tax has continued to fund building throughout the county. On Wednesday, the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners will discuss several projects that the tax will go to fund this year.

Among those are improvement to the Jackson Springs Recreation Center located at 8620 Jackson Springs Road in the Town 'N Country area.

"We have to bring it up to code and make it ADA accessible," said Steve Valdez, county public works spokesman. "It needs some major roof imorovements."

Jackson Springs Recreation Center operates a partnership with the Boys & Girl’s Clubs of Tampa Bay and offers after-school, martial arts and summer programs for children up to 17 years old.

A new skateboard park is planned for the property where Jackson Springs Recreation Center is located.

The recreation center improvements will cost $2.2 million, said Tom Fessler in the county's business support services department. There is no timetable for the improvements yet.

Other projects to be funded with the Community Investment Tax include:

• A Countywide Soccer Complex
• Gibsonton Area Recreation Center
• Gardenville School Renovation
• Dangerous Intersections/Pedestrian Safety Program

The CIT tax expires in 2026, Fessler said.

A Public Hearing To Discuss Community Investment Tax Projects will occur on Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. at the Frederick B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 2nd Floor in Tampa.

A copy of the list of proposed changes is available by visiting the Hillsborough County Business and Support Services Department, located on the 26th floor of County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., or online at http://bit.ly/sept19CIT.