Bust, plaque will be unveiled Feb. 10 at Lucy Dell Community Pond
Hillsborough County, Fla. (Feb. 8, 2024) - Hillsborough County will recognize former state Rep. Betty Reed on Saturday, Feb. 10, with a bust honoring her decades of community service as an activist and elected official.
The bust and plaque will be unveiled at 10 a.m. at Lucy Dell Community Pond, 4650 E. Diana St., Tampa, FL 33610. When Reed was president of the Lucy Dell Community Association, she successfully lobbied to turn a neglected drainage area into what became Lucy Dell Community Pond, which boasts a walking trail, boardwalk, and exercise stations.
Reed's involvement in civic affairs began with the Hillsborough County Parent Teacher Association, and she was one of the leaders lobbying for air conditioning in all schools. She held important positions in many parent groups, civic associations, and children's boards, and ran successfully for the Florida House of Representatives in 2006, where she served until 2014. A vocal advocate for vulnerable residents, she led efforts to pass the first black infant mortality legislation in the country, eliminate the use of restraints on pregnant inmates, and provide protections and assistance for the homeless. She was instrumental in securing funding for important local projects, including construction of the New Tampa Family Health Center and renovation of Fort Homer Hesterly Armory.
Reed was elected to the Hillsborough County Women's Hall of Fame in 2016. She died in 2022 at the age of 81.
The unveiling ceremony will feature Hillsborough County commissioners, Lucy Dell residents, officials, and members of Reed's family.
Link: Photos