Many New Tampa residents are aware that District 2 Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan (photo below) used to live in Cross Creek. Fewer people probably know, however, that Hagan grew up in Carrollwood — and he says both experiences helped him decide to fight for an indoor/ outdoor recreation facility in New Tampa — all of which is located in his district.
“When I was in college,” Hagan says, “I spent my summers working in the same county park in Carrollwood I grew up playing in. Then, when I was raising my family in Cross Creek, I realized that we didn’t have any county park facilities. So, when I first became the County Commissioner for the New Tampa area (way back in 2002), I decided to try to get a large county park built here.”
Hagan says the county had purchased land in K-Bar Ranch, “and my original plan was to partner with the City of Tampa on a big park there, but the city killed that. (Note- K-Bar is now getting a city park of its own.) So, I was able to take that money and use half of it to redo Branchton Park (on Morris Bridge Rd. south of Cross Creek Blvd.) and the other half to build this facility here.”
Hagan and other county officials cut the ribbon on the $8.6-million Cross Creek Recreation Center at 19019 Bassett Creek Dr. (next to Pride Elementary) on June 29.
In addition to completely revamping the 15-acre park’s outdoor playground and adding shade shelters, new basketball courts, a walking trail and benches, the project’s crown jewel is the 16,000-sq.-ft. rec center, which has a full-sized basketball gym, fitness (not yet stocked) and multipurpose rooms, classrooms and a public meeting space — and recreation supervisor Kim Gilchrist and assistant rec supervisor Alex Spacone (photo, left) say the summer camp program was full for this summer, but there will be programming for children and adults throughout the year for those with a “Wellness Access Pass-Cross Creek.”
“There are a lot more programs still to come,” Hagan says. “I wish we had something like this when my kids were growing up here.” Me, too, Ken!
For more info about the Cross Creek Rec Center, call (813) 744-5978 or visit FLHillsboroughweb.myvscloud.com. — GN; all photos by Charmaine George
