Fireworks and a drone show took place at Julian B. Lane Park, and the city honored teens who organized a flag football night as an alternative to the takeover trend.<\/p>\n
TAMPA, Fla. \u2014 One of the Tampa Bay area’s largest Fourth of July celebrations wrapped up Saturday night with fireworks and a patriotic drone show at Julian B. Lane Park, drawing residents and visitors who said the holiday’s meaning \u2014 and the city’s celebration of it \u2014 keeps bringing them back.<\/p>\n
Bobby Thomas, a Washington, D.C. native who moved to Ocala four years ago, said he has attended the Tampa fireworks display for the past four years and prefers it to celebrations in the nation’s capital.<\/p>\n
“You can go pretty much anywhere in the city and find a good show but coming down here to Tampa, there is nothing like it,” Thomas said.<\/p>\n
Attendee Jeylin Ortiz cited a different draw.<\/p>\n
“Just the vibe. The family friendly vibe,” she said.<\/p>\n
Amid the red, white and blue displays, attendees reflected on the deeper meaning of the holiday. Another visitor Anna Leyva who lives in Tampa said the day represents freedom.<\/p>\n
“That we have a free country that we get to do what we want. That we get to have all the choices that we want,” she said.<\/p>\n
Cody Odom moved to Tampa two years ago from Oregon, yet what hasn’t changed with his zipcode: “I love the Fourth of July, second to Christmas,” he said.<\/p>\n
\nCity honors teens for alternative to ‘takeovers’ <\/p>\n
In a ceremony on the Liberty On The Bay stage, the city of Tampa presented its newly created “Community Changemaker” award to two young men for organizing an event aimed at steering teens away from unsanctioned street gatherings that have caused problems in other cities.<\/p>\n
Russell Stanley Jr., 17, and Bryan Hunter, 20, received the inaugural award for planning a flag football night that drew approximately 200 Tampa Bay teens.<\/p>\n
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor referenced a national trend in unruly youth gatherings during remarks at the event.<\/p>\n
“We’ve seen around the nation these teen takeovers where young people are doing some bad things in different communities,” Castor said.<\/p>\n
Castor said the city has existing programs for young people, but credited the two honorees with tapping into what their peers actually wanted.<\/p>\n
“We have a number of programs in place for kids. We have the ‘Stay and Play After Hours’ but you know leave it to a teenager to come up with an idea of what teenagers want,” Castor said.<\/p>\n
Titus O’Neil, a WWE superstar and partner with the award said the football event taught leadership skills beyond the field.<\/p>\n
“Football was one of those things where you learn how to be part of a team. You learn how to elevate into a leadership no matter what position you’re played on the field,” he said.<\/p>\n