Florida-Friendly Landscaping Planted At Fire Stations

Community leaders, partners and volunteers joined Mayor Pam Iorio at Fire Station 14 to announce a new Florida-friendly landscape initiative for all City of Tampa fire stations. In the future, through public/private partnerships, all Tampa Fire Rescue Stations will receive new Florida-friendly landscaping.

Florida-friendly landscaping consists of plants that are tolerant of the climate, thrive in the varied weather conditions and do not require extensive supplemental irrigation. This new green initiative for Tampa fire stations helps beautify neighborhoods and is environmentally responsible. Fire Station 14, located at 1325 South Church Avenue, was the first station to receive the new landscaping and was designated a “Florida Friendly Landscape” today by the University of Florida, Hillsborough County Extension office.

The initiative will be possible only with the help of additional public/private partnerships. Fire Station 14’s partners include: Janet Kovach of J.D. Kovach & Associates, Inc. who coordinated contributions and served as liaison to the City for project; Kim’s Nursery, Inc. and Mother’s Organics, Inc. provided the plants; Living Soil Solutions provided compost; and Genesis Group donated the irrigation system. Mother’s Organics, Inc. also provided mulch for the project. Volunteers from the Mayor’s Beautification Program and Mayor’s Youth Corp planted the new landscaping.

The total project cost was $3,575, a fraction of the $20,000 estimate the City had received for the irrigation alone.