Tampa City Council member Naya Young // City of Tampa 4/2/2026
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Tampa land containing unmarked graves of African Americans dating back to the early 1900’s is one step closer to preservation.
The Tampa City Council approved giving the land to a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the historic Zion Cemetery.
Zion Cemetery, Tampa’s first all-African American burial site, was founded in 1901.
But a few decades later, ownership was removed from the cemetery owners and transferred to a white landowner who claimed the land for back taxes and effectively erased it from the map.
But now Tampa’s mayor, city council, and others are celebrating a land swap agreement that gives the land to a non-profit to restore the cemetery.
Tampa City Council member Naya Young said the deal restores dignity.
“Some may wonder why this is such a milestone, and why we care so deeply about righting this wrong. For starters, residents living here today could very likely have family members buried there and just not know it.” Young said.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said the city is untangling troubling decisions made in Tampa in the past.
“As much as we want to focus on the successes of our city, we have to be realistic and accept those mistakes that were made through history by the city of Tampa,” Castor said.
The deal transfers ownership of Richard Gonzmart’s property along Florida Avenue to the Zion Cemetery Maintenance and Preservation Society or to a third-party nonprofit jointly designated by the City of Tampa and the Society.
In exchange, Gonzmart will receive a city-owned property on North Highland Avenue and West 7th Avenue in Tampa Heights.
An investigation found over 100 unmarked graves in the former burial ground.