The Park campus, facilities, grounds, patriotic events and Memorials Plazas are managed, supervised and supported by three organizations:
The VCS is responsible for operation of the Veterans Resource Center, the Admiral Leroy Collins, Jr. Veterans Museum and supporting Park Rangers/Volunteers/Staff.
To contact Park Operations, Veterans Benefits, volunteer information, general information for rental of pavilions, hours of operation, and park/museum events and tours: click here
The VCHC is made up of representatives from the community who plan, organize, and host events throughout the year (see calendar)
Mailing Address: Veterans Council, 3602 North US 301, Unit #4, Tampa FL 33619
To contact a member of the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County: click here
Conservation parks offer more amenities than other County parks, like hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, boat launches, camping, fishing, picnic shelters and more. Most conservation parks are fully staffed, although there are a few that are self-service. Veterans Memorial Park is maintained by Park Rangers’ assigned to CELM as well as nature preserves and boat ramps. click here
To develop a World Class Park and Museum complex that supports and remembers the sacrifice and valor of the members of the Armed Forces from Hillsborough County, Florida.
Veterans Memorial Park and Leroy Collins, Jr. Museum is managed, supervised and supported by the Hillsborough County Department of Veteran Community Service (VCS) and the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County (VCHC).
The VMPMC completed its mission in 2025 with the completion of the Gold Star Family Memorial which was dedicated on November 15, 2025. For history sake, the committee was formed to facilitate the enhancement, expansion and support of the Hillsborough County Veterans’ Memorial Park and Museum. To accomplish this mission the committee was dedicated to carry out the following:
Plans back in the early 1980’s were in progress to develop a Veterans Park near Tampa International Airport but the project was eventually abandoned to make room for a “Toll Road”. This was a significant set-back for local veteran advocates but it actually set the stage for the extraordinary success of what is now one of the most historically significant places to honor the men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States.
Veterans Memorial Park was resurrected on a small property known as “Tis-A-Wee Day Use Park and Bike Path” in eastern unincorporated Hillsborough County along the Cross Channel Canal. The property was previously part of land managed by Southwest Florida Water Management District. Through various agreements with county government the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners initiated a project on June 4, 1986 along with the approval of $350,000 to construct recreational facilities at the site, which was officially established as Veterans Memorial Park on November 25, 1986.
Less that a year later, a grant from the Florida Legislature Land Acquisition Trust Fund was appropriated along with local resources to construct Veterans Memorial Park Museum. The Veterans Memorial Park Museum was commissioned June 6, 1990 and opened the next year in partnership with Hillsborough County Veterans Council and County officials that included hosting and organizing patriotic events at Veterans Memorial Park.
Memorial Day in 1997 was celebrated on May 24 and many Americans held cookouts and barbeques but something special occurred in Tampa with the dedication of the “Freedom Memorial”. This memorial became a reality from hard work of the Veterans Freedom Memorial Committee, Inc. which was a team of dedicated veterans, county officials, Trustees, Board of County Commissioners and the Tampa City Council. This Memorial site is considered hallowed ground by many veterans and will forever be a place to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
More than a decade later in early 2004, county leaders recognized interest in Veterans Memorial Park was increasing so they acquired an additional 4.73 acres to expand the park. Two years later, on April 5, 2006, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners directed the County Administrator to “form a committee to develop a plan for honoring those who have lost their lives while serving in combat”. After several months of meetings and studies between veterans advocates, county planners and others, a comprehensive and professionally designed “Master Plan” was approved by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners and the project was put in motion with a Ground Breaking Ceremony on November 17, 2009.
During the next decade, Veterans Memorial Park and the Rear Admiral LeRoy Collins Jr. Veterans Museum (renamed on October 20, 2010) has seen a most remarkable transformation due in part to another unique partnership between county government and another non-profit organization, Veterans Memorial Park and Museum Committee, Inc. The park is now home to over 20 Memorials and a Veterans Resource Center that provides personal service and support to Hillsborough County Veterans, their dependents and survivors. The memorial plazas and park grounds gained local notoriety in 2015 when they received several awards from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council at their 33 rd Annual Future of the Region Award.
To download the award entry details.