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PSA: Save the Bro Bowl



The Bro Bowl in Tampa, Florida, is one of the last remaining skateparks of the 1970s era.

HISTORY
Built in 1978, as a featured element of Perry Harvey Sr. Park, a new public city park, the Perry Harvey Sr. Park Skateboard Bowl (a.k.a. Bro Bowl) was designed by city employee Joel Jackson. The park was conceived of earlier in 1975, after Jackson witnessed a skateboard contest in a parking lot and noted a rising interest in skateboarding. At that time, no skateboard parks existed in the United States, not until Skateboard City in Port Orange, Florida, opened in February 1976. When Jackson's skatepark opened three years later, his concept remained distinct; a "skateboard rink" for inner city youth that was free to use, 24/7, with no fences and no supervision. It not only became Florida's first public skatepark, but one of the very first to be built in the nation. What made Jackson's surf-style skateboard park also unique, was that it was suited for all levels of skaters and still serves the Tampa community today. The Bro Bowl has been in magazines, ads, and on television, and featured in Tony Hawk's Underground video game in 2004.

On October 7, 2013, Perry Harvey Sr. Park Skateboard Bowl, aka the Bro Bowl, made history again after it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
http://www.nps.gov/nr/listings/20131025.htm
It is the first time in the history of the National Register that a property related to skate culture and history has ever been listed. Now this significant, cultural landmark is in danger again.

SAVE THE BRO BOWL
http://www.brobowl.org

The Bro Bowl has witnessed nearly four decades of the ever-changing landscape known as Downtown Tampa. It has seen many a conflict, as well as united people of all ages, race, gender, background, and socio-economic status. As this historic structure prepares to meet the challenges it faces that will ultimately determine its future, we offer an insight as to what it has meant to our City and generations both past and present. What are your experiences? How has this piece of green concrete shaped your life, and how will it shape others? Reflect on this, and let your voice be heard:

Sign the petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/the-city-of-tampa-florida-preserve-the-perry-harvey-sr-park-skateboard-bowl-bro-bowl

Contact Mayor Buckhorn: http://www.tampagov.net/dept_mayor/contact.asp or contact Dennis Fernandez, Architectural Review & Historic Preservation Manager, at (813) 274-3100, option 3 or Dennis.Fernandez@tampagov.net to encourage the City of Tampa to preserve this unique element of Tampa and skateboarding history.

It is now, or never.


SUPPORTERS
Parties who believe the Bro Bowl should be preserved include:

Skateboarding Heritage Foundation
http://www.skateboardingheritage.org

Surfrider Foundation
http://suncoast.surfrider.org

Florida Skate Museum
http://www.floridaskatemuseum.com

Tampa Preservation, Inc.
http://tampapreservation.com

Tony Hawk Foundation
http://tonyhawkfoundation.org

Bob Burnquist of X Games fame has recently stated on radio he supports the preservation of this historic skatepark:
http://www.620wdae.com/onair/ron-and-ian-4273/bob-burnquist-stands-behind-saving-bro-12424969