Historic natural spring brings community and civic-minded volunteers together for over 100 years
For over a century an urban spring has served as a community gathering point, inspiring fellowship, civic engagement, and enjoyment of Hillsborough County's natural beauty.
In the early 1900s, Thomas and Ruby Palmer welcomed visitors to their property along Hillsborough Bay, which they had named Palmera Spring. For those who wanted to enjoy the natural spring-fed pools and a break from city life, the oasis was only a 3-mile streetcar ride along Bayshore Boulevard from downtown Tampa.
In 1928, a large pool was constructed so more people could enjoy the constant 72-degree water, which some claimed to have healing powers.
By the mid-1940's, a Hillsborough County Commissioner, Fred William Ball, convinced the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners to purchase the land for $15,000. After the land was acquired, the area was named Fred Ball Park in his honor, and a green space was created for the community. The City of Tampa acquired the park in 1955.
Eventually, the spring waters receded, and the pool was shut down and filled in. By the late 1980s, the park fell into disrepair and required renovations. Over time, the Tampa Garden Club's Rose Circle volunteer group renovated one of the springs and refurbished the park with a fountain, walkway, benches, and landscaping.
Today, spring water continues to flow, and the park remains welcoming and lush with plants, mostly maintained by volunteers. Though the spring is no longer the swimming or healing attraction it once was, it remains a cherished treasure and continues to bring the community together.
Historical marker inscription
During the early 20th century, the number of recreational pools in Tampa and around expanded rapidly. Thomas Palmer's Palmera Spring opened around 1903, and grew in popularity as the neighborhood around it expanded. The pool and the neighborhood would both come to be known by another name, Palma Ceia. Thomas and Ruby Palmer are credited with naming the area. The best idea is that Palma is a play on Palmer, and Ceia comes from nearby Terra Ceia.
The growing availability of personal backyard pools following World War I, combined with the intrusion of polluted ground water, led to the pool's demise. Fred Ball Park now encompasses the site of the original spring and pond. Surrounded by a concrete wall, most of the spring's water is now piped under Bayshore Boulevard through an outflow into the Hillsborough Bay.
The larger spring-fed pool, which was located just to the west of the small pool that remains today, served as a popular swimming and recreation spot for several decades. Close proximity to the streetcar line, which ran along the Bayshore, and the refreshingly cool spring water earned the pool a great reputation.
Marker location
The Palma Ceia Spring historical marker is in Fred Ball Park, at 2621 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa, FL 33629.
The marker was erected in 2025 by Rose Circle Tampa Garden Club and the Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council.