The Tampa Riverwalk will compete with other riverwalks across the U.S., with daily voting open until April 6.

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Riverwalk has been a focal point of the downtown area for years, and now, it’s up against other riverwalks across the country as part of USA Today’s 10Best series. 

In total, 20 riverwalks were nominated by an expert panel because they offer “an experience that combines the serenity of nature with the liveliness of city life,” according to the publication.

Expansion projects throughout the year have transformed the Tampa Riverwalk’s 2.6-mile path to stretch from the Tampa Heights District to Channelside, which USA Today mentioned includes parks, museums, restaurants and plenty of spaces to take in the scenery. It also serves as a central spot for performances, art, leisure and fitness activities.

The riverwalk first came about in the 1970s, as part of then-Mayor Bill Poe’s plans to revitalize the downtown area to include public parks and scenic paths, according to Friends of the Tampa Riverwalk. For decades, different parts of downtown Tampa had riverfront walkways, but they weren’t fully connected until 2014 with a span of riverwalk built under Kennedy Boulevard.

The city of Tampa announced plans in February 2023 to further expand the riverwalk west of the Hillsborough River. And in October 2025, city leaders and longtime residents gathered to officially break ground on Tampa’s West Riverwalk.

The new Riverwalk extension — part of the city’s $56.8 million West River BUILD Project — will add about two miles of waterfront walkway from Platt Street to Rome Avenue, and more than five miles of surrounding roadway and safety improvements through West Tampa.

Once complete, Tampa will have a 12.2-mile continuous riverwalk along both sides of the Hillsborough River — stretching from Ballast Point to Tampa Heights — linking neighborhoods like West Tampa, North Hyde Park, Ridgewood Park and Ybor City to downtown.

Developers are already taking notice. Mayor Jane Castor previously said the project is sparking interest from hotels, restaurants and new residential projects — particularly around the University of Tampa and the Kennedy corridor.

Construction is expected to take several years and create hundreds of jobs. In the long term, city officials believe the project could generate more than $1 billion in new development and help fuel Tampa’s next wave of growth.

People can vote for the Tampa Riverwalk on the USA Today website once a day until April 6 at noon. The 10 winners will be announced on April 15.

Previous 10 Tampa Bay News reporting contributed to this story.