The pavilion at the top of the "big hill."

The original pavilion in this park was opened by the city of West Tampa on April 25, 1909, the year Hugh MacFarlane donated the land for the park.

The park (which used to have a golf course) was dedicated in 1924.

This design is inlaid at the center of the terrazzo floor of the pavilion.

The existing pavilion may have been built in 1957 due to the efforts of the four organizations named here.

A baseball game at Macfarlane Park in 1922, now the location of West Tampa Little League fields.
Notice the original gazebo on the hill at the upper left of the photo.

Macfarlane Park Municipal Golf Course, 1924

Depicted on the mural, left to right:
 

Robert Saunders
Luisa Capetillo
Jose Marti,
Hugh Macfarlane
Fernando Figueredo

In addition to above links, click on each face to read more about these influential people.

Click to read the plaque

The mural is painted on the side of the racquetball courts    

The Artists: 

Edgar Sanchez Cumbas                   Guillermo Portieles   

http://edgarsanchezcumbas.com      http://www.portieles.com

News release at TampaGov              Entry in Tampa's Public Art     

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Appointments to the Board of Public Works and Board of Port Commissioners furthered his local prominence. In 1892, inspired by the actions of Vicente Martinez Ybor six years earlier, Macfarlane offered free land and buildings to cigar manufacturers a few miles northwest of Tampa proper.

In order to develop West Tampa as Hillsborough County’s second cigar manufacturing area, in 1892, Macfarlane and his partners financed the first bridge across the Hillsborough River, the iron Fortune Street drawbridge. In the fall of 1892, the Macfarlane Investment Company helped start a streetcar route from downtown Tampa into West Tampa, as part of the Consumers Electric Light and Power Company system. By 1900, good transportation and communication between West Tampa and Tampa’s port facilities were essential factors in making the new community competitive with Ybor City and Tampa for new factories and businesses.

His initiative paid off. In 1895 West Tampa incorporated as its own city and came to rival Ybor City in cigar production. In 1925, West Tampa was annexed into greater Tampa. 

After West Tampa’s success, Macfarlane devoted his time between real estate interests and law practice, serving as the top criminal lawyer of the state. He always maintained a personal interest in the laborers and citizens of West Tampa, giving generously, often without publicity, to both individuals and organizations.

In 1908, he contributed forty acres of drained land for the formation of Macfarlane Park. In 1912, he diligently assisted to receive assistance from his fellow Scottish immigrants’ foundation for the construction of two Andrew Carnegie libraries, one in Tampa, the other in West Tampa. His community participation included membership in several fraternal orders: the West Tampa Board of Public Works, Port Commissioners, and a life member of the Rocky Point Golf Club. In addition, he maintained membership in local, state and national bar associations.

	Howard P. Macfarlane, for whom Howard Avenue is named

Soon after his arrival to Tampa, Hugh Macfarlane married Frances Pettingrill. They had two children: Howard P. and Mary E. (Hoyt). His son from his first marriage, James, occasionally visited Florida, but maintained his residence in Fall River, Massachusetts.

The family grew and prospered together in Tampa, becoming important in both economic and social circles. Hugh maintained his prosperous legal career throughout his lifetime and was noted as a gifted orator, "whose appearance in the courtroom brought an aura of respect from all present."

Mr. "West Tampa" remained active in law and formed several law firms until his death at his residence January 7, 1935 at age 83. . His obituary fondly described him as having the "canniness of a Scot, the resourcefulness of an American, and the genuine wit and wisdom of a Florida Cracker." Indeed, his life as a Florida Pioneer enriched not only his local community but also his state and nation.

Read an EXCELLENT photo essay about Hugh Macfarlane and the development of West Tampa and the park, which has many wonderful old photos of numerous West Tampa sights, including the park.  This is a PDF file at the USF Library Special Collections Department.  Portrait of Hugh Macfarlane from the photo essay

Views from the top of the hill

Spruce Street separates the park from the West Tampa Little League fields seen on the left.