Kiley Gardens

Design and Layout

Positioned in downtown Tampa, Florida, Kiley Gardens is a 4.5-acre public park with a fascinating history. Created by Dan Kiley (a landscape architect who was kind of a big deal) and finished in 1988, this isn't your average park. It's actually perched on top of a two-level parking garage, sandwiched between a towering 33-story office building and two six-story bank pavilions, with the Hillsborough River and University of Tampa functioning as its backdrop.

The space features a design based on the Fibonacci mathematical sequence - yes, the same one you might remember from math class. This sequence inspired the distinctive checkerboard pattern of grass and concrete that defines the plaza. Sitting eight feet above street level, you'll need to climb some steps or take a concrete ramp to reach the garden. On your way up, you'll cross over five rectangular pools, each featuring its own island with a solitary tree - a little zen moment in the urban landscape.

Original Features

Back in its original state, the garden had five palm allées that functioned as main pathways, with some 800 crepe myrtles planted underneath them. The design included nine narrow concrete water channels that started from circular basins with bubblers and stretched across the site, eventually flowing into a 400-foot long plexiglass-bottomed canal - which must have been quite the sight.

Near the Tampa Museum of Art, there was a special water garden designed for kids to play in, surrounded by fragrant jasmine, parkinsonia, and dwarf yaupon hollies.

Reconstruction and Current State

Fast forward to 2006, and the garden needed some serious TLC. Structural issues and water damage to the parking garage below prompted a major reconstruction project. This unfortunately meant saying goodbye to the sabal palms and crepe myrtles while workers tackled structural, electrical, and drainage repairs.

The reconstruction restored the plaza's small amphitheater and repaved the garden surface according to the original patterns. The plan was to bring back the crepe myrtles and palms too, but that part of the project hit a roadblock when the money ran out.

Today, what you'll see is a geometric arrangement of concrete panels alternating with grass squares - it's definitely on the minimalist side. While it might not have the lush plantings it once did, there's something calming about this clean, quiet space in Tampa's busy urban core.

Views and Setting

One thing that hasn't changed is the view of the Hillsborough River, Tampa's main waterway. The garden's elevated position makes it a prime spot for catching those golden-hour sunsets over the city skyline.

Situated right in downtown Tampa, Kiley Gardens functions as both a landscape art installation and a peaceful urban retreat. It might not be as flashy as some parks, but there's something special about this quiet space where you can appreciate both the thoughtful modernist design and the natural beauty of the river and city beyond.