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Vandals Topple Garden Fountain

Credit: JAMIE PILARCZYK

Terrell Clark, left, Bettie Nelson and Amaryllis Garden Circle co-president Lisa Taylor discuss what to do about the broken fountain.

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 31, 2007

NEW SUBURB BEAUTIFUL - The Amaryllis Garden Circle's urban garden, shaded by the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, used to have a centerpiece.

But last week, the four-tiered, Florentine cement fountain was toppled and shattered.

'It's just senseless vandalism,' circle member Grace Kelly said.

The garden at Howard and Watrous avenues - a combined project of the city, the Florida Department of Transportation, CSX railroad, New Suburb Beautiful Civic Association and the garden circle - provides a green entrance to the neighborhood.

Amaryllis members, along with a city-paid contractor, maintain the flowers on the city property. The circle donated the $1,600 fountain in 2003.

Marsha Carter, grounds maintenance superintendent with the parks and recreation department, said the city is reviewing who is responsible for replacing the fountain.

The garden circle says it will offer a cash reward for information leading to an arrest in the incident, although it hadn't determined an amount as of late last week.

'We won't tolerate vandalism,' circle co-President Lisa Taylor said. 'There are people who care about beautifying their neighborhood.'

The fountain was destroyed late Oct. 22 or early Oct. 23.

'It looks like it was an isolated incident,' police Officer Kristin Molina said.

This isn't the first time the garden has been hit by vandals. In 2003, one of two bronze decorative cranes was stolen and thrown through a car window. After an article appeared in the South Tampa News, the crane was recovered. Both statues have been reinforced and cemented to the ground.

'We don't accept this kind of behavior. It's not acceptable,' said circle past-President Bettie Nelson, who initiated the beautification effort. 'Being a fighter by nature, I am not putting up with it.'

INFORMATION SOUGHT

Anyone with information about the vandalism of the Amaryllis Garden Circle's urban garden should call the police department at (813) 231-6130 and reference case number 07-608692.

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 835-2114 or jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com.

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