Mayor Buckhorn to Visit with Volunteers Planting around Ulele Spring
On Saturday, May 31, 2014, Mayor Bob Buckhorn will visit with volunteers from Krewe of Princess Ulele, Green Artery, Rowers Crewe, Tampa Heights Civic Association, Tampa Federation of Garden Clubs, and Scheda Ecological Associates, Inc. who will be planting a variety of native plants surrounding the restored Ulele Spring. Volunteers will be planting more than 4,000 plants, ranging from cordgrass species to spider lily. Plants were paid for by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and the Florida Freshwater Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Last week, crews removed the cofferdam barrier, allowing the restored spring water to flow naturally into the Hillsborough River for the first time in decades.
Restoration of Ulele Spring, formerly called Magbee Spring, began in fall 2012. The spring restoration component of the park was funded through a partnership with the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Tampa, as well as assistance from Ecosphere Restoration Institute, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and United States Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition, the City of Tampa has invested $7 million to improve Water Works Park, with funding coming from the Capital Improvement Tax. The park improvements will be completed this summer.
WHO:
• Mayor Bob Buckhorn
• Dozens of local volunteers
WHEN:
• Planting from 9 a.m. to noon
• Mayor Bob Buckhorn will visit with volunteers at 11:00 a.m.
• Saturday, May 31, 2014
WHERE:
• Water Works Park, 1710 N. Highland Ave.
***Parking will be available along Doyle Carlton Drive.