Jul 4, 2023
Axios Tampa Bay
InVision Advisors served as the Owner's Representative of the 19-acre park including a 4,000-seat amphitheater called The Sound.
Why it matters: City officials hope the $84 million Imagine Clearwater project will awaken the sleepy downtown of Tampa Bay’s third-largest city with a makeover akin to the Tampa Riverwalk or St. Pete Pier.
Zoom in: The 19-acre park includes a 4,000-seat amphitheater called The Sound that will feature programming by Ruth Eckerd Hall.
At the park's center is a four-acre lawn with a garden and walking paths.
Among Coachman's other features are a lake with a playground and splash pad, the Bay Walk Promenade along the water and the shadier Bluff Walk North near the city's main library.
What they're saying: "Not only do you have a public park built up on a natural bluff with great views of the water, but you also have great amenities to entertain both kids and adults," Clearwater Mayor Brian Aungst Sr. said in a statement. "There's nothing like it anywhere else."
The intrigue: The park's success hinges in part on another major player in the city. The Church of Scientology planted its spiritual headquarters nearly 50 years ago at the Fort Harrison Hotel in the heart of downtown.
The campus grew slowly over the years. Then, starting in 2017, companies controlled by the church began buying properties at an unprecedented rate, according to a Tampa Bay Times investigation.
They now own at least 176 parcels within walking distance of Coachman, according to the Times. Most sit vacant, which could jeopardize the city's vision for a vibrant retail and residential district downtown.
State of play: The city will kick off a week of events with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5pm. Later, rock band Cheap Trick will christen the amphitheater with a sold-out show.