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Shoreline Projects Set For 2 Parks

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By MARK HOLAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 23, 2008

TAMPA - After years of planning and delays, the city appears ready to begin shoreline stabilization at two waterfront parks.

Last week, the city council approved two contracts totaling almost $939,000 for work at Riverside Garden Park, on the west side of the Hillsborough River north of Columbus Drive, and at Cypress Point Park, on Old Tampa Bay at the west end of Cypress Street.

"It would be nice if they finally did something," said Jerry Scaglione, who has lived on North Rome Avenue across from Riverside Garden for about 47 years. "I know government runs slow, but I can't believe it's taken this long."

Scaglione said he has watched 20 feet of land erode from the riverbank, swallowing trees and a brick barbecue pit that now sits in the muck at the bottom of the embankment. Boat wakes and stormwater runoff have created 10-foot drops.

Harvey-Taddeo Inc. of Oldsmar will be paid $633,871 to stabilize slightly more than half of the park's 2,500-foot shoreline, said Jim Valentine, planning and design superintendent for the city's parks and recreation department.

"They will terrace it down to the river so that it's not such a high drop," Valentine said.

Work is expected to begin within a month and take up to nine months, Valentine said.

A second phase to restore the remaining shoreline closer to Columbus is expected to cost at least $400,000 and probably won't begin before November. A contract has not been signed for the second phase.
Councilman John Dingfelder opposed using $491,000 from a city tree fund for the first phase.

The council awarded a $305,051 contract to Construct Co. of Orlando for shoreline restoration at Cypress Point. That work is expected to begin in February and be completed within six months, Valentine said.

The city is building restrooms at the 43-acre park, which was a city landfill from the 1940s to the 1960s. Valentine said stabilizing the 1,200-foot-long beach will boost natural habitat by improving tidal flow to some small lagoons in the park.

The city received grants from the Tampa Port Authority, Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission and Southwest Florida Water Management District for the two projects. Valentine said about one-third of the cost for the Cypress Point project will be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The city also received a $15,000 grant from the port authority last week for ongoing removal of invasive species at McKay Bay Nature Park, 134 N. 34th St.

Reporter Mark Holan can be reached at (813) 835-2102 or mholan@tampatrib.com.

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