CHANNEL DISTRICT - The city is trying to bring green to the Channel District.

It is negotiating to buy vacant property at Washington and 12th streets to build a half-acre neighborhood park, said Bob McDonaugh, the city's urban development manager for the Channel District and downtown.

The park will be at the center of the neighborhood, with aspirations of building an additional park north of Kennedy Boulevard and another one in the south part of the district.

"Part of it depends on money; part of it depends on availability of land," McDonaugh said.

Once the city has the property under contract there will be a neighborhood meeting to discuss whether people want the park to function as a passive or active park, and the types of amenities they favor, McDonaugh said.

It would be the first park in the Channel District Community Redevelopment Area, which is bordered by the Selmon Crosstown Expressway to the north, Garrison Channel to the south, Ybor Channel to the east and Meridian Avenue to the west. The district's redevelopment area is 212 acres.

The city's redevelopment areas use neighborhood property taxes to enhance the district. The 2009 budget for the Channel District redevelopment area is $3.9 million. Along with the Channel District, the city has designated community redevelopment areas in Ybor City, East Tampa, Drew Park and downtown.

The Channel District has about 1,600 residents.

Blake Hayden has lived in the neighborhood for nearly two years. He is pleased with plans for a park adjacent to his condominium. It would be another place in the community for residents and visitors to meet and interact, he said.

"It builds a sense of community," said Hayden, a board member of the Channel District community advisory committee. "It beautifies and greens the area. It increases property values."

Hayden said he supports additional parks as long as money is spent wisely and properties are valued fairly.

"The more parks and beautification, the better," Hayden said.

McDonaugh hopes to have the park completed by the first quarter of 2010.

Reporter Jose Patino Girona can be reached at (813) 259-7659.