Project Information
Background
The project will also include improvements to the City’s 48-acre
environmental property acquisition, known as MacDill 48 Park, located off MacDill Avenue just south of Interbay Boulevard. The property was originally purchased in 2002 through the Environmental Lands Acquisition Protection Program (ELAPP) administered by Hillsborough County to protect and preserve the property. Subsequently, the City took ownership and control of the property and with this project will now enhance the diverse environmental habitat it contains, provide for passive park activities, reduce the hazard of brush fires, and provide for water quality treatment of stormwater runoff.
The aesthetically pleasing pond will be strategically placed in the central lower lands within the MacDill 48 Park property to enhance habitat diversity and provide needed water quality improvements. The City is taking extreme care in its enhancements of the property and is working with environmental specialists, the Florida Communities Trust (FCT), Hillsborough County’s ELAPP General Committee and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) to ensure the design preserves the Park’s diverse habitat and saves as many trees as possible.
The use of MacDill 48 Park will allow the City to maximize flooding relief and enhance water quality within the Lower Peninsula Southeast Watershed. It will also fulfill a required element of the City’s agreement with FCT to rehydrate the wetlands, restore onsite habitat and provide a high-level of water quality treatment to improve the quality of the stormwater entering Hillsborough Bay.
The map of the MacDill 48 site shows the preliminary design concept of the regional pond layout, pending final data collection, regulatory agency requirements and public input.
Our team will work closely with ELAPP, the Florida Conservatory Trust (FCT), the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department, and environmental specialists to ensure the design saves as many trees as possible.
Project Schedule
Currently a survey team is working within the project area to collect information that will be used in the project design. This work includes a tree survey along potential route options for the stormwater drainage conveyance system, as well as within the ELAPP/MacDill 48 site.
The project design began in July 2020 and will take approximately 18 months to complete. Construction and installation of the stormwater drainage conveyance system began in late 2022. Construction activities for Phase 1 are on West Averill Avenue from Bayshore Boulevard to South MacDill Avenue. Phase 1 work will continue for approximately 12 months, including restoration to 700 linear feet behind the box culvert installation, and is expected to be completed in February 2024. Phase 2 improvements to the City’s 48-acre environmental property acquisition known as MacDill 48 Park, are expected to be completed in late 2024, with the entrance on South Martindale Avenue expected to be completed in February 2024. Phase 3 construction on West Thorpe Street, South Himes Avenue, West Bay Avenue, South 3rd Street, and Tyson Ditch, began in January 2024 and is projected to be completed in May 2025.
