The park is one city block, 245 feet by 242 feet, and features a circular park design, public art (Freedom Sculpture), a covered gazebo, and a history walking trail.   The “dome” of the gazebo resembles the dome of the 1892 County Courthouse and the image on the County Seal.

Shade trees at the park are live oaks and the palms are the Florida state tree, the cabbage palm.  The ground cover is a native plant called coontie.  Ten times around the square is approximately one mile.

Joe Chillura Courthouse Square (map) is located on the block surrounded by Kennedy Blvd. on the south and Morgan, Madison, and Pierce Streets in the Government Center district of downtown Tampa.

From <a href=”http://www.stairclimbtampabay.com/stairclimbtampabay/”>Climb Tampa</a>:

Join us for one of the most unique events in Tampa Bay.  On March 21, 2009, hundreds of people will huff and puff their way climbing the 42 flights in the Bank of America Plaza in downtown Tampa.  This is more than your same old 5K this event is a vertical race to climb 42 floors/914 steps.  Whether climbing for a winning time or simply to cross the finish line in honor or in memory of someone with lung disease, this event is a great way to challenge yourself physically.  We guarantee that all finishers will have a newfound respect for healthy lungs!

All proceeds benefit the American Lung Association for lung cancer research, education, and prevention programs.  Many do not realize that lung cancer is still the number one cancer killer in both men and women.

You don’t really know your community until you’ve walked it.

There’s nothing better for the environment than putting the car keys in a drawer, throwing on a pair of sneakers and hitting the pavement. Studies have show that compact, walkable communities allow people to make fewer trips in their cars, travel less to meet their everyday needs, and thus reduce their contribution to global warming. The question really is – is your neighborhood walkable?

Up until recently, many people did not think of Tampa as a walkable city, but with recent renovation efforts, improved urban planning and the advent of new museums and waterfront projects, things are really changing.

Healthy Together and its partners invite you to enjoy learning more about your active downtown community while realizing the wellness benefits of outdoor activity. “Do The LOCAL Motion” is a free fitness program that combines walking and running with culture and community.

Join the Do The Local Motion Tampa Bay team every other Friday (schedule) for a 45-minute (approx. 2 miles) walk!  Walkers meet at noon at Lykes Gaslight Square Park (map).

It’s time to get healthy.

Do the Local Motion Tampa Bay is encouraging folks to get healthy and tour downtown Tampa all at the same time.

There are a half dozen routes designed to get you moving for forty five minutes while you take in the sights and sounds of Tampa, allowing you to get to parts of the city you may never have visted.

Each route includes a podcast that highlights various sites and plays music from local musicians.  You can find the podcasts at dothelocalmotiontampabay.com.

Walks begin and end at noon every other Friday at Lykes Gaslight Square Park (map), where you can also check out the downtown Tampa market.