If you’re looking for a quiet place to get away from the crowds and congestion during the Republican National Convention this summer in Tampa, don’t look to the city parks downtown.

The city is currently accepting permit applications from groups wanting to demonstrate in these green spaces.

So far, City Hall has taken in nearly 40 applications from  20 different groups that want to do everything from hold prayer vigils to display political ice sculptures during the GOP Convention that runs from August 27-30 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

City attorney Jim Shimberg said there are so many applications that the city will hold a raffle Friday morning choose which groups will get to hold their demonstrations in each of the 12 designated parks in and around downtown Tampa.

"We're trying to facilitate the opportunity for groups to have advanced planning and exercise their first Ammendment rights," Shimberg said. "So we've made certain parks available for people who want to plan ahead and take the whole day in the park."

The idea to raffle off the park permits is similar to the way demonstrators were handled in Denver during the 2008 Democratic Convention. Tampa officials are optimistic the move will appease any protestors while at the same time keep the peace.

"If we have more than one group that have asked for the same parks, we'll have a lottery in the city council chambers," Shimberg said.