TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Riverwalk has become a focal point of the downtown area over the last decade, and now it's up against other riverwalks across the country for a Readers' Choice Award as part of USA Today's "10Best" series.
Tampa's riverwalk is one of 20 nominated by "an expert panel as the best in the country" that has everything from recreational space, culture, great food and nightlife. These riverwalks were chosen because they offer "an experience that combines the serenity of nature with the liveliness of city life," according to the publication.
Expansion projects throughout the years have transformed the Tampa Riverwalk's 2.6-mile path to stretch from the Tampa Heights District to Channelside, which USA Today mentioned includes parks, museums, restaurants and plenty of spaces to take in the scenery.
The riverwalk first came about in the 1970s, as part of then-Mayor Bill Poe's plans to revitalize the downtown area to include public parks and scenic paths, according to Friends of the Tampa Riverwalk. For decades, different parts of downtown Tampa had riverfront walkways, but they weren't fully connected until 2014 with a span of riverwalk built under Kennedy Boulevard.
The city of Tampa announced plans in February 2023 to further expand the riverwalk west of the Hillsborough River, creating a trail connecting more neighborhoods like West Tampa, Bayshore Boulevard, Hyde Park and North Franklin Street. City leaders have said the addition will likely be around 6 miles long.
Port Tampa Bay has also discussed bringing the riverwalk through Channelside, adding pathways along the Florida Aquarium and Sparkman Wharf's waterfront.
The Tampa Riverwalk was nominated for this same contest last year but placed second behind Detroit's International Riverwalk. It had been the first time the city's riverfront walkway was nominated.
As of Tuesday morning, Tampa's Riverwalk was leading the group in first place, according to the live leaderboard you can check here to see which destination has the most votes at any given time.
To cast your vote for the Tampa Riverwalk, click here.
Polls close at noon Eastern Time on Monday, April 8.
