Ballast Point Park was originally named Jules Verne Park but was renamed in 1903. Development of the park began in 1892 with the construction of the Ballast Point Pavilion by Chester and Emelia Chapin, who came to Tampa from New York.[1] The park was a destination stop on the Consumers Electric Light and Street Railway Company, a predecessor of the later Tampa Electric Company (TECO) streetcar system.[2]
The historical marker placed at the park by the Hillsborough County Historical Commission reads:
Mrs. Chester W. Chapin controlling owner of the company which operated the city's first electric trolley cars, purchased these acres and in 1894 developed this site into a tropical park as a terminal for her line. She named it for the French writer Jules Verne (1814-1905) who in his famous novel "From the Earth to the Moon" first published in 1865 chose Tampa town as his launching site for the imaginary shot of his rocket to that planet near one hundred years ago.”[3]
Features
The sections of the park that are open from sunrise to sunset include the playground, water play area and shelters for picnics and parties. The park also contains an interactive water play area for children. There is a 600 feet (180 m) pier in the park that is open 24 hours. There is also a small, informal concession at the pier, Taste of Boston, which serves seafood, ice cream and American food.
