Nearly six months after hurricanes Helene and Milton caused widespread destruction, five Parks and Recreation facilities across Tampa are on track to reopen by May.

The storms left significant damage in their wake—submerged HVAC units, downed light poles, toppled fences, uprooted trees, and shingles torn from roofs. Among the affected sites, the DeSoto Community Center reopened on March 3, following repairs to its HVAC system, which had been submerged during Hurricane Helene. Due to the building’s age, the unit required extensive retrofitting.

“Storm clean-up and reconstruction efforts touched nearly every city park and facility,” noted Mayor Jane Castor. “Helene’s flooding was swiftly followed by Milton’s winds, resulting in approximately $8.4 million in damages to our Parks and Recreation facilities alone.”

Later this month, the Kwane Doster Community Center will reopen its doors, eagerly welcoming Port Tampa families back to the space.

“We deeply appreciate the community’s patience,” said Parks and Recreation Director Tony Mulkey. “The diligent efforts of our Parks and Recreation and Facilities teams have been instrumental in reaching this milestone. We’re excited to safely reopen all our facilities to the public.”

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