DECEMBER 23, 2024 — A proposed flag design for Temple Terrace in Florida was presented to the City Council on December 17, the Tampa Beacon reports, marking a significant step in the city’s centennial preparations.
The initiative began in March when the city announced a design contest inviting residents and artists to contribute ideas for its first-ever official flag.
Over 40 submissions were received, but no single design met the selection committee’s expectations.
Joel Duarte, the city’s marketing and communications director and contest organizer, synthesized elements from multiple submissions to create the final proposal.
“I think the committee had a tough time just picking one winner, so I was tasked with taking these ideas and making a cohesive, collaborative flag,” Duarte explained.
The proposed flag features a circular seal on a green background, symbolizing Temple Terrace’s tree canopy, greenery, and parks. The seal incorporates the Temple orange, the golf course, the Hillsborough River, and the city’s prominent oak trees. Additional elements include the light tower on 56th Street and the “TT” branding.
“We’re a city where our residents love the city, and I want them to be proud of something,” Duarte said.
City officials expressed support for the proposal. The proposed flag will be introduced to the public via social media, potentially inviting further feedback before its formal adoption through a resolution in early 2025. Mayor Andy Ross hinted at plans to recognize contributors whose ideas influenced the final design.
Temple Terrace has never had a formal city flag, despite an attempt in the 1970s when Audrey Turner, a former city clerk and council member, designed one. However, no visual records of Turner’s design remain.
“If you go back to the minutes of the meeting, there’s a presentation of a flag, but there’s no evidence of what it looked like,” Duarte noted. This historical gap inspired Duarte to create the City Flag Challenge as part of the centennial celebrations.
“This is what I came up with,” Duarte said. “And I hope it’s something the community can take pride in.”
Image: Tampa Beacon