Tell Hillsborough Commissioners To Place Parks/Trails Referendum On November's Ballot

In three months you've done what no one expected: You stopped demolition of the Friendship Trail Bridge and helped show everyone that there is community support for a better Tampa Bay.

You convinced Hillsborough County to have a vision beyond demolition. At every meeting, in every email, and every conversation they heard your voice.

Now Hillsborough County is already considering taking a giant leap further. In the next couple weeks the county commission will be discussing a plan that would invest over $80 million in parks, trails, and recreation activities across the county. They would put these investments into a referendum and up to a vote on the November Ballot in Hillsborough County.

Your voice has made a difference before and we need you to use it again.

The county is holding a public hearing on the budget tomorrow evening and we need to show support for the Bridge, and trails and parks across the county.

Here are the details:

Thursday, July 19
6:00 PM
County Center, 2nd Floor
601 E. Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, FL

For those of you who couldn't make the morning meetings, here is your chance to show your support . For those that have helped before, we need your voice to be loud and clear again.

Every one of the Commissioners has told us how influential the emails and phone calls have been in convincing them to support our vision.

There are still some that think the Bridge isn't worth saving, parks aren't worth improving, and trails aren't worth building -- we can't let them be the only voices.Any possible referendum could transform the Bridge, but more importantly it will be a statement that we support a better vision for our community. A vision for our county that is more livable, more attractive to new residents, and a better place to start a business and raise a family.

Each person that has joined our effort so far has shared that vision. We want to let the commissioners know that they should keep looking to invest in our future. If the emails and phone calls stop now, the county will go back to ignoring us.

The county process is moving fast, because you have shown your support for the Bridge. Your continued phone calls and emails are essential to maintain our momentum.

Over the next six months we will be raising money and organizing to conduct a study to find the cheapest and best way to transform the Bridge into a linear park. Even if you can't make the meeting tomorrow, we need your help by volunteering to be on one of our committees -- just reply to this email to find out more information. We will get back to you quickly about what you can do to help.

This is a pure grassroots campaign -- and every little thing you can do will help us make this dream a reality.

Thanks,

The Friendship Trail Bridge Team