SULPHUR SPRINGS, Fla. — The historic Sulphur Springs community was founded in the 1920s and was once considered a national tourist attraction.

However, residents say the area has been suffering from urban decay for years.

On Wednesday, the city of Tampa’s Planning Department kicked off a series of meetings to work with Sulphur Springs residents on what they call an “ambitious neighborhood action plan.”

This is a long time coming for residents who have been wanting issues such as absentee landlords, homelessness, violence and trash in the area to be addressed.

What You Need To Know

  • On Wednesday, the city of Tampa’s Planning Department kicked off a series of meetings to work with Sulphur Springs residents on what they call an “ambitious neighborhood action plan”

  • This is a long time coming for residents who have been wanting issues such as absentee landlords, homelessness, violence and trash in the area to be addressed

  • A survey is available online, and nearly 10,000 residents have the option to attend three engagement meetings

  • The city’s planning department hopes to have the final plan by early 2026 to present to the Tampa City Council

Pastor Carolyn Riggins, who has lived there for 23 years, has been advocating for another resurgence for the community.

”The first thing that I’m seeing that’s different is if you’ll notice, as you drove up, you don’t see anybody on the corners over there. You don’t see anybody on the corners there,” said Riggins.

Riggins was one of the first to express her concerns with the city.

“This means everything to me because home is our castle,” said Riggins. “I told you before when you came to visit that I’m ashamed to have anyone come visit me because it’s like they got to come through a war zone to get to me. It’s not where I would like to see it, but it is certainly much better.”

The city of Tampa is seeking community input for the Sulphur Springs Neighborhood Action Plan.

“We are really trying to get that initial feedback, get people to tell us their story and tell us about their lives, their perspectives,” said Evan Johnson, Interim Director of City Planning for the city of Tampa. “It’s essential that the residents and community members are a part of this every step of the way, ensuring a clear vision for the future of their neighborhood for generations to come.” 

The Action Plan will rely on residents, business and property owners, community organizations and city departments to identify and implement actions to foster a resilient community, including:

  • Directing funding towards infrastructure projects like roads, sidewalks, parks and utilities.
  • Creating community programs such as job training or youth activities.
  • Helping the city identify and prioritize funding for projects.
  • Encouraging collaboration between public agencies and private developers.

A survey is available online, and nearly 10,000 residents have the option to attend three engagement meetings.

The city’s planning department hopes to have the final plan by early 2026 to present to the Tampa City Council.

“This is a good start, but it's not the end of the road,” added Riggins.

Riggins hopes the community as a whole will buy into this project and allow their voices to be heard.