'Mr. River' To Be Remembered During Unveiling Of Plaque

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS, FL — Before his life was cut short in 2007 at the age of 54 due to cancer, Alan Wright spent more than 20 years working to protect Tampa's environment in general and the Hillsborough River specifically.

On Saturday, Dec. 14 from 1 to 3 p.m., his legacy will be recognized with a plaque unveiling at the park named in his honor, Alan Wright Park, 1402 E. Park Circle, in Northeast Seminole Heights. The event is being hosted by the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association.

The Tampa Grid 45 Neighborhood Watch received a grant through the Hillsborough County Mini-grant program and created two roadway murals (one in front of the park) and a plaque to honor Wright, who lived within feet of the park that bears his name.

According to Susan Elbare, coordinator of the Grid 45, Northeast Seminole Height Neighborhood Watch, Wright was responsible for restoring the fresh water flow to the lower Hillsborough River.

Known locally as “Mr. River” because of his decades-long advocacy for the Hillsborough River, Wright was a principal planner at the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission, and served as the county liaison to the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board and Technical Advisory Council for 21 years.

“Everything good that happened for the river …none of it would have happened without him” said Phil Compton of the Friends of the River.

Wright was also instrumental in establishing the annual Mayor’s Hillsborough River Cleanup, played a key role in the purchase of the Sulphur Springs Water Tower property on the banks of the river and successfully lobbied to have the Hillsborough River Blueway become part of the statewide Greenways and Trail System. In fact, Tampa renamed its portion of the Hillsborough River Blueway the Alan Wright Hillsborough River Blueway.

“Alan Wright was the voice and soul of the Hillsborough River,” said former Tampa City Council member Linda Saul-Sena, who knew Wright for 20 years. “He was the river’s most passionate advocate, and he did more to protect it than any other person I know.”

Representatives of Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, Friends of the River and the Ryan White Care Council will be in attendance. Light refreshments will be provided.