One day (within this decade), you'll be able to take an after-work jaunt from your plot of paradise in West Tampa or Bowman Heights right to Hyde Park or Channelside.

Earlier this week, the City of Tampa moved forward with plans for a nearly five-mile extension of the massively popular Riverwalk with a request for interested designers or builders, according to a release. The bulk of the money for the West River Build Project will come out of a $24 million grant the city received from the US Department of Transportation.

Highlights from the plans include:

Connecting Tampa Heights, Bayshore Boulevard, West Tampa, Hyde Park, North Franklin Street, Bowman Heights, and Riverside Heights neighborhoods along the public trail
Sections that bridge over the Hillsborough River + living shorelines
Making the city safer for pedestrians and bikers — with improved sidewalks, bike lanes, and safe crossing features
The map details the prospective extended Riverwalk. | Map courtesy of the City of Tampa

City leaders expect the extension to be finished by the end of 2026.

Check out more info + drone footage of the route online. We'll keep you posted on when renderings are released.