Tampa Republic

The City of Tampa has announced an expansion of its Neighborhoods Design-Build Project to include a tree planting initiative aimed at enhancing the city's urban landscape. Mayor Jane Castor expressed the city's commitment to investing in neighborhoods, stating, "This project will not only make crucial infrastructure improvements below ground but will also make improvements to the City's overall landscape."

The project, which initially focused on infrastructure upgrades, will now incorporate a pilot program to plant hundreds of trees across two communities, Macfarlane Park and Virginia Park. According to the city officials, the tree planting initiative is aligned with the goal of planting 30,000 trees by 2030 and selecting trees that are beneficial to the neighborhoods.

In addition to the tree planting initiative, the Neighborhood Design-Build Project includes the replacement of water pipelines in Macfarlane Park. The improvements aim to enhance water quality, improve fire protection, and reduce water infrastructure breaks in the area. The project also integrates sustainability and resiliency features into the neighborhood.

The overall Neighborhood Design-Build Project, with a budget of $92 million, targets vital infrastructure improvements in Macfarlane Park, Forest Hills, Virginia Park, and East Tampa. Progress on the project is currently around 50% complete, with work in Macfarlane Park expected to conclude in the Fall.

Funding for the water and wastewater infrastructure updates is sourced from Tampa's PIPES plan (Progressive Infrastructure Planning to Ensure Sustainability), a $2.9 billion initiative to modernize the city's aging water and wastewater systems. Since 2021, over 45 miles of water pipeline have been replaced as part of the ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure in Tampa.

The tree planting initiative, in conjunction with the infrastructure upgrades, reflects the City of Tampa's dedication to enhancing its neighborhoods and urban environment.