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Cuscaden Park and Pool were built in the 1930s and served as a recreation hub for residents, many of whom worked at the cigar factories in what is now VM Ybor. Named after the citrus magnate Arthur Cuscaden, it features an above-ground pool and courts on the south end and a large playing field on the north.

The pool features an Art Deco-style entry house and an 80-foot-by-120-foot above-ground pool. Over the last century, millions of dollars have been spent on maintenance and repair, keeping it closed sometimes for years on end.

The courts in the south end have also been updated. What used to be six basketball courts has since been transformed into six paddleball courts and two basketball courts. In 1947, the Boys’ Club of Ybor City was built where two of the basketball courts once stood. That building now houses The Dream Center.

The large playing field has evolved as well. In the 1930s, when it was established, baseball was popular, and the park once held a large baseball diamond with grandstands on the south end. While there is still a baseball field at the north end, two-thirds of the park now consists of a football field, complete with goalposts.

© Chip Weiner. All rights reserved