Hillsborough County Commissioners Sandra Murman and Stacy White are joined by residents, county officials, and Hillsborough County Aging Services and World War II veteran “Prom King” Ralph Wozniak in cutting the ribbon for the grand reopening of the Gardenville Schoolhouse in Gibsonton. Mitch Traphagen photos.
The newly renovated Gardenville Schoolhouse in Gibsonton celebrated its “third reopening” with a ribbon cutting by county leaders on Friday. The school was built in the early 1920s and transferred to the Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation Department in 1961. With the newly completed renovations, the former school will serve primarily as a senior center.
“Once a place for young people to learn and socialize, now a place for seniors to come to socialize and learn,” said Assistant County Administrator Dexter Barge.
Former student Pete Johnson and his wife Jeanie shared stories of attending the school. Mr. Johnson welcomed those in attendance to the “third grand reopening” of the school. He also thanked Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandra Murman for her commitment to the renovation of the building.
County Commissioner Stacy White also thanked Murman and spoke of his long family connection to the area.
“We knew this could be a multi-purpose facility,” Murman said. “This is going to be a very special place.”
The newly renovated Gardenville Schoolhouse in Gibsonton will serve primarily as a senior center
Hillborough County Commissioner Sandra Murman said, “This is going to be a very special place.”
The renovation project was funded by an $830,000 Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, administered through Hillsborough County’s Affordable Housing Services Department.
Both Hillsborough County’s Aging Services and the Parks and Recreation departments will offer programs and services at the facility.
The Gardenville Schoolhouse is at 6215 Symmes Road in Gibsonton.
