Leaders consider new amphitheater in Black community in Tampa [Video]

TAMPA, Fla. — The city of Tampa is still working to add an amphitheater to the historic Central Avenue Business District despite Gov. Ron DeSantis denying funding for the project in the state’s budget.

Central Avenue Business District was once home to a thriving Black community known as The Scrub.

“It is the first spot in Tampa that the enslaved or formally enslaved people were allowed to land in the Palmetto thicket,” Tampa City Councilwoman Gwendolyn Henderson explained.

Jordan Mills said more should be done to honor that history.   

“It could definitely use more of the African American influence around this area especially because it was historically founded around that,” Mills said.