Who was Kate Jackson? This question arose while I was passing through Tampa's famous 'Kate Jackson's Park.' Ms. Jackson's legacy dates back to 1857; she was the only girl among three children. The Jacksons were devoted Catholics, which was uncommon in early Tampa. They sent Kate to an all-girls Catholic school in Key West, and she enjoyed her time there so much that she set out to open what is now the "Academy of the Holy Names." In addition to her efforts to bring the academy to Tampa, she also founded the Tampa Civic Association and helped persuade male politicians to accept public library funding. She spoke passionately about cleaning up the city and helped enforce a "no spitting ordinance." This also included creating and maintaining public parks and recreation areas for the children of Tampa. Kate's legacy is still embedded in our Tampa neighborhoods. The Kate Jackson Community Center is not only named in her honor but is also located on the same property, keeping the same addre...