The Florida Aquarium in downtown Tampa is getting a facelift. Mayor Bob Buckhorn is attending the ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the new Stingray Beach exhibit tonight. .
Sand, shore birds, a boardwalk, and stingrays. It's the closest you can get to actually being on a beach. Stringray Beach is the latest expansion to the Florida Aquarium.
The pool housing the stingrays is bigger and has easier access to the rays themselves. Touching their velvety skin has never been easier.
President and CEO of the Florida Aquarium Thom Stork said it continues to be an important city attraction.
"It's been a stimulus for downtown Tampa development and we'll continue to be," he said. "This is a statement that we're continuing to grow, we're continuing to be that cornerstone, that foundation of downtown."
Stork says they've been able to raise $10 million out of the $15 million needed to complete the full project. The other phases of the expansion would add space for an education center and a 600-seat ballroom.
