TAMPA, Fla. – July 23, 2015 – The State of Florida has recognized Rogers Park Golf Course by listing it on the National Register of Historic Places. This milestone was recognized at a presentation during the regular board meeting of the Tampa Sports Authority on July 27th, 2015.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archaeological resources.
(Above) G.D. Rogers at his desk
Rogers Park Golf Course, built in 1952, has evolved as one of Tampa, Florida’s best-kept secrets. The beautiful 18-hole golf facility is steeped in history and rich in heritage. During the days of segregation, Rogers Park was the only picnic area for the African American community in Tampa. The park took the name of its contributor, G.D. Rogers. Mayor Curtis Hixon gave permission to a group of local golfers to build a 9-hole golf course. The first Head Golf Professional, Willie Black, directed his group of volunteers, and with meticulous care, all of the tree removal and shaping was done by hand. Upon its completion in 1952, the Rogers Park Golf Club was born.
“My family, our Black community and community at large really appreciate this acknowledgement. Our goal is to preserve the history and legacy of Roger Park for everyone to learn about a enjoy,” said James Ransom the Grandson of the late G.D. Rogers, Sr., and Minnie L. Rogers, and Spokesperson for the “Citizens Who Support Keeping Rogers Park Public. Ransom is also a Board Member for the Tampa Organization of Black Affairs.
In 1976, the City of Tampa gave management rights to the newly formed Tampa Sports Authority, and a $400,000 renovation project began. In 2000, the Tampa Sports Authority decided that a $4 million renovation was needed. An array of other landscaping and reshaping of holes was added to enhance the character of Rogers Park Golf Course, and in 2001, a new maintenance compound was completed and followed by a new clubhouse in 2002.
THE LONG JOURNEY TO PRESERVATION
On Friday, August 22, 2014 the City of Tampa (COT), Historic Preservation Commission voted again in favor of recommending Rogers Park Golf Course to the Florida National Register Review Board for National (Historic Preservation) Registration. The State of Florida Division of Historical Resources convened a meeting on Thursday, September 4, 2014 at 1:00PM to review and a favorably vote was hoped for on the Roger Park Golf Course nomination.
Ransom attended the COT Historic Preservation Commission meeting and he attended the State of Florida meeting in Tallahassee speaking in support of the nomination.
(Photo left) James Ransom the Grandson of the late G.D. Rogers, Sr., and Minnie L. Rogers.
Ransom said, “It’s with great pride and respect that our community wants to preserve part of our contribution to Tampa’s history and honor my grandfather, C. Blythe Andrews, Sr. and Jr., Dr. W.W. Andrews, Kay Wells Andrews and C. Blythe Andrews, III and Families; the Moses White and Alton White Families; the Perry Harvey, Sr. and Jr. Families; the golfers led by Mr. Willie Black and their Families; Rufus Lewis, Curtis Green and other local golfers and organizations such as the ‘Citizen’s Who Support Keeping Rogers Park Public’, Tampa Organization of Black Affairs, Tampa-Hillsborough Branch of the NAACP and all other supporters unmentioned who have worked diligently to protect this hallowed ground.”
Ransom also expressed gratitude for the support of the Mayor, City of Tampa City (COT) Council Members, the Tampa Sports Authority Board and the COT Historic Preservation Advisory Committee and staff, Congresswoman Kathy Caster, State Senator Arthenia Joyner, State Representative Betty Reed, County Commissioner Les Miller, City Council Member Frank Reddick and many others for their letters of support.
“We would like to especially thank Dennis Fernandez, Historic Preservation & Urban Design Manager, for his professionalism, diligence, dedication and commitment to shepherd the process along to help us preserve the history and legacy of Rogers Park Golf Course as part of the fabric of history of the City, County, State and Nation,” Ransom said. “There are too many others unnamed today who lived through that era and know the story of Roger Park when part of it was transformed from a public park to a 9-hole golf course.”
EXPANSION OF ROGERS PARK
Later, the 9-hole Rogers Park course was expanded to be an 18-hole, Par 72 PGA styled golf course. Rogers Park, nearly surrounded by the Hillsborough River, is historic for many reasons including its cultural significance and must be remembered as one of the few places that African Americans could go for recreation, picnics and enjoyment with families and friends, legally and safely, during a time of overt segregation and racism, in Tampa and the nation. Rogers Park must be remembered as a place where African American men who worked as caddies at the Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club but could not play golf there, cleared the land at Rogers Park and hand shaped one of the most challenging and beautiful public golf courses where they could play the game they loved.
African American men and women have visited Tampa from all over the country to play golf at Rogers Park. Golf greats the likes of Charlie Sifford, Lee Elder, Jim Thorpe, Charlie Owens and other legends played there. The Rogers Park Golf Course historic preservation effort continued to move forward, there were a lot people and organizations that contributed to the initiative. Ransom was steadfast in his public appeal and admonished the community that the time had come again for them to take action by supporting the historic preservation of the Rogers Park Golf Course. His efforts headed-up a letter writing campaign of support that was sent to the Florida National Register Review Board prior to their meeting scheduled for September 4, 2014. It was through this relentless commitment and dedication that the vote was won.
Rogers Park Golf Course
7910 N 30th St, Tampa, FL 33610
Phone: (813) 356-1670
