Palma Ceia Spring

Palma Ceia Spring. . , 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 large 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., 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.