Residents urge $8–9 million for Zion Cemetery memorial; council asks for administration update

TAMPA — Multiple residents and the Zion Cemetery Preservation and Maintenance Society pressed the City Council to fund a memorial park, genealogy center and land acquisition to memorialize more than 800 interments uncovered beneath a public housing site.

Speakers including Michael Randolph and Reba Eamon described the discovery as a moral obligation and urged the city to help finance a community‑led memorial and a genealogical research center. Randolph said the effort would “restore justice to over 850 forgotten souls,” and asked the council for design and program funding.

Council response and actions: Council members asked administration for an update on the matter and moved a request for reconsideration on a related alley‑vacation item elsewhere on the agenda. Several speakers asked the council to include an initial allocation of $500,000 in the next budget cycle; attendees asked that the city coordinate with the nonprofit Zion Cemetery Preservation and Maintenance Society on acquisition and memorial design.

Why it matters: Advocates said the site hosts historic unmarked burials and that public recognition, archaeological investigation, and a public memorial could serve educational, genealogical and reconciliation purposes for the city and region. They estimated the comprehensive effort could cost roughly $8 million to $9 million to acquire and develop the site and related facilities.

Details from the meeting: Fred Hearns, the society’s president, described the history of the site and asked the council to request an update from the administration. Reba Eamon told council, “You can be part of history today by making what was wrong right today.” Council members signaled support for additional study and asked staff to report back; the council did not adopt a funding appropriation at this meeting.

Next steps: Council members asked the administration for a written update and for staff to brief council on options and funding pathways. Advocates said they would return with specific cost estimates and a formal funding request for upcoming budget discussions.