TAMPA, Fla. — A new 2,000-foot section of the West Riverwalk next to the University of Tampa campus is almost finished. City officials expect this stretch of trail to open by the end of 2026, as long as weather permits.
The new 12-foot-wide path stretches from Plant Park to Cass Street. Built by The Haskell Company, the trail includes decorative brick borders designed to match UT’s historic buildings and existing brickwork.
The builders also saved and reused a small piece of the original sidewalk, which features concrete stamping from the early 1900s. Matching light poles were added to fit the rest of the campus.
When it opens, the path will feature around 65 new palm trees and five hammock stations for resting, studying, or viewing the river. Construction crews are asking students, staff, and visitors to stay clear of the active work zone until the job is done.
This campus section is just one piece of the larger West River BUILD project, which currently has work underway on five of its six segments.
Overall, the full project will add two miles of new riverwalk and upgrade three miles of surrounding roads and sidewalks. Other updates include new crosswalks, better handicap access, and living shoreline plants to protect the water’s edge.
City planners designed the trail to give residents and visitors a safer, car-free way to get around West Tampa. They hope the added path will help support local businesses, renovated parks, and new housing in the area.
The total cost for the West River BUILD project is nearly $60 million, paid for through a mix of government and city funds:
- Federal BUILD Grant: $24 million
- West Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency: $10 million
- City of Tampa (Community Investment Tax): Roughly $7.5 million
- City Bonds (Non-Ad Valorem): Roughly $16.8 million
- Additional Federal Funding: $250,000 announced by U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor for future minor updates
While the University of Tampa path is expected to open in late 2026, the full West River BUILD project is scheduled to finish in the spring of 2027.
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