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Parks Board Recommends $2.5 Million For Center

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By TOM BRENNAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 9, 2008

BRANDON - BRANDON - Hillsborough County park officials are recommending the county give $ 2.5 million to a group of area buisness and civic leaders to help build the Brandon Community Advantage Center.

The executive board overseeing the county's Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department included the center in a laundry list of projects nominated to receive cash when county commissioners reallocate $40 million previously budgeted for the Championship Park sports complex in Plant City, which the commission abandoned last year.

Commissioners are set to consider the board's recommendation June 17.

The Advantage Center "doesn't compete with the programming we have in that particular area," said Mark Thornton, park's department director.

Thornton said the performing arts programs to be offered at the center at the southeast corner of the Winthrop commercial and residential development already have proven popular at the Carrollwood Cultural Center, which opened in March.

Thornton said his board also was swayed by the knowledge that center advocates already have secured $3.4 million in state and federal funds.

"That money will be used to build the shell. Our money will go to finishing it out," he said.

Part of the funding already promised is $1.4 million in federal revenue offered in exchange for making part of the center an emergency evacuation shelter for people with special needs.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 657-4528 or tbrennan@tampatrib.com.

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