Many peer organizations focus on individual parcels within their neighborhood. Although there are some upsides to this approach, we have chosen instead to focus primarily on the property that surrounds us. We believe that if we work together to make these improvements, it can have an even greater effect on growing property values and pride in our neighborhood. In 2015, the civic association became a community partner with the Environmental Protection Agency, which provides us with additional resources for related initiatives.
Future Considerations — Vision — And Ongoing Operations
- Partner with local businesses, charities, residents, and Hillsborough County for periodic events to donate unused items to charity, remove trash, and remove invasive species in surrounding public lands. (ONGOING)
- Work with Rocky Point Golf Course and Hillsborough County to pursue landscaping projects at key locations throughout Rocky Point (e.g., near the pump station across from the entrance to Pelican Island, at the intersection of George Road and Independence Parkway, in the children’s park). We began this work in 2016 with a donation of the palms removed from our entranceways, which Bart Butler originally donated on behalf of Southern Florida Landscaping. These trees now adorn the signs and other highly visible areas around the perimeter of the golf course. (ONGOING)
- Annually coordinate an Upper Tampa Bay Golf Tournament to raise funds for community-directed projects at Rocky Point Golf Course; a Family Field Day at Skyway Sports Complex, or both. (ONGOING)
- Pursue clean water initiatives that go beyond education to installing various infrastructure-related projects. This is phase II of our community’s effort to improve water quality and increase marine life in our canals.
- Garnered critical support across five communities and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program for Hillsborough County’s $1M septic-to-sewer federal grant request. This funding is specifically focused on Town ‘N Country and improving water quality in Old Tampa Bay.
- Installed five medium-large bat houses on Rocky Point Golf Course with the long-term goal of reducing mosquitoes and the need for aerial mosquito spraying, thereby helping to protect local estuaries.
- Worked with FDOT and Tampa Bay Estuary Program to successfully encourage removal of tidal gates across from Bahama Breeze, thereby increasing tidal circulation, flushing, and water quality on the northside of the Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway and in our vicinity.
- Brought together leaders from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Rocky Point Golf Course, and Tampa Airport to evaluate habitat, stormwater, and drainage enhancements in nearby areas of Old Tampa Bay.
- Sharing important steps homeowners should take to protect our waterways (e.g., Cooking Oil Recycling Effort, cleanup efforts along the causeway, regularly picking up dog poo, keeping debris out of the canals, and Hillsborough County’s new fertilizer ordinance). (ONGOING)
- Fund a scientifically based water quality study and related project initiatives in the canals surrounding Dana Shores, Pelican Island, The Cove, and Sweetwater. Leverage the study to pursue additional grants for implementing a science-based approach to improving water quality and marine habitat. (FUTURE)
Completed Items — Select Community Highlights
- Worked closely with the County to enhance Skyway Sports Complex, including changes in how tournaments and other events were managed, improved landscape maintenance/clean-up, and other quick-wins (e.g., trimmed trees, refreshed mulch, sidewalk repairs, insect control, new park benches, and trashcan lids).
- Enhanced the children’s playground area at Skyway Park.
- Worked with Hillsborough County to install new, aluminum fencing around the children’s park, enhanced playground equipment, water fountain, shade sail, a fitness zone, landscaping, turf in the playground area, and other amenities.
- Worked with Hillsborough County Children’s Board to install a Little Library, and conduct monthly readings for children.
- Partnered with former Dana Shores Women’s Club and Pelican Island to replant a living World War I Memorial of oak trees along Dana Shores Drive to honor our veterans.
- Removed hundreds of abandoned PVC and steel poles that littered the small bay just west of the Grand Hyatt.
- Raised awareness about water quality and the responsibilities of each resident. This is phase I of our community’s effort to improve water quality, protect marine life, and reduce the threat of bacterial disease. In 2017, Dana Shores also participated with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful in two coastal clean-up efforts along the causeway.
- In 2017, hosted a clean-up event to remove invasive species along the west side of Rocky Point Golf Course, filling five contractor-sized dumpsters with more than 14,000 pounds of invasive species removed from the right-of-way. In 2016, filled 5 construction-sized dumpsters with 27,220 pounds of vines, invasive trees and brush, low-hanging limbs, and palm fronds from the bike path extending south from Skyway Park. We also estimate that more than 20 bags of garbage were picked up throughout the park. When added to the 2014 and 2015 numbers, our community has now removed 89,720 pounds of invasive plants, many abandoned tires, and nearly 60 bags of trash from the golf course and park. By removing invasive species, we keep them from choking out the native trees and plants in the area. Their removal also opens up our views to the golf course and access to the bicycle path that leads to the Courtney Campbell Trail, thereby improving visibility, increasing riders’ safety, and enhancing nearby property values.
- Worked with the community, local leaders, and Florida State Representatives to stop a developer-led proposal to infill a portion of the waterway along Rocky Point Island. Had it not been stopped, this project may have otherwise set a dangerous precedent and posed significant risk to Florida estuaries and the rights of waterfront property owners.
- Prompted the City of Tampa to instill a regular maintenance program for mowing a six-foot swath on each side of the bicycle path south of Skyway Park. Prior to this effort, plants blocked nearly half the path’s width at various places. Also worked across government agencies to have them mow and pick up trash along an easterly section of the bicycle path previously not maintained (between the Grand Hyatt and the former location of the Chart House).
Although we make a concerted effort to outline a clear and doable vision, the above vision is subject to change based on new ideas, resource availability, project feasibility, and other factors. Please let us know if you have questions or would like to offer input and related assistance.
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