Tampa, FL - The Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission is proud to announce the winners of our 41st Annual Planning & Design Awards presented by TECO. This annual awards program aligns with the many national festivities held during October, the American Planning Association's National Community Planning Month. Established in 2006, #PlanningMonth highlights the important role of planners and good community planning. This celebration of excellence in planning and design was held on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at the Shanna & Bryan Glazer Jewish Community Center, winner of the Jan Abell Award for Outstanding Contribution in Historic Preservation in 2017.

The Planning Commission's awards program was originally created to inspire and promote good practices that turn the challenges that come with growth into opportunities for the Cities of Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plant City, and unincorporated Hillsborough County. This year's awards took this to a whole new level, recognizing inspirational people for plans, programs, projects, and developments from small with big impact uplifting our community; to those dedicated to preserving our natural assets or rich history; to transformative developments changing our skyline and elevating the City of Tampa and our entire region. Photographs of the event can be viewed in an album on the Planning Commission's Facebook page.

Award winners were selected by a panel of distinguished judges from outside of Hillsborough County. Four Awards of Merit, five Awards of Excellence, and six Awards of Outstanding Contribution to the Community, including one Jan Abell Award, were presented by Brendan McLaughlin, our host since 2009.

• Darryl Shaw
• Robert Kettler
• Graham Tyrrell & KETTLER Tampa Team

GASWORX is a 50-acre master plan located in the heart of Tampa – between historic Ybor City, Downtown, and the Channel District. The redevelopment is a joint venture project between Tampa developer Darryl Shaw and Washington, D.C.-based Kettler. By combining Mr. Shaw’s long-term vision for Ybor City’s renaissance and Kettler’s experience in large, transformative projects, GASWORX will add significant density, livable public spaces, and connectivity in an area of currently underutilized land-uses to create a true live/work/play urban neighborhood. Soon, 18 development sites with 5,000 residences, over 500,000 SF of office space, and more than 140,000 SF of retail. More importantly, it will connect the surrounding communities and knit the urban fabric with walkable streets, multi-use trails, parks and recreation areas, and a new streetcar stop. The approved master plan features an abundance of public amenities, wholesale infrastructure improvements, restoration of the historic street grid, significant affordable housing, and carefully curated commercial spaces to support local businesses and the arts community. Construction of the first phase commenced in October 2022 and will create 695 multifamily housing units, including 30 affordable, plus approximately 10,000 SF of retail space. A second phase will break ground in early 2024 and will include the conversion of a large brick warehouse into a market, restaurants, and office space, while south of the warehouse will be a new pedestrian street with space for outdoor dining, vendor stations, and entertainment. This phase will feature the replacement of a roundabout with a traditional street grid creating open space to be turned into a one-acre city park and a new streetcar stop on Channelside Drive. The judges described GASWORX as a wonderful, innovative master plan that will reconnect the tissue of the City’s modern urban core with Ybor’s historic past. On top of the extensive public engagement, they loved the design that maintained the historic character of the neighborhood, the mix of scales and income levels, and the bike, ped, and transit orientation of this new vibrant mixed-use development.

• The Bromley Companies

After winning a Planning & Design Award of Merit for their Master Plan in 2019, Midtown Tampa’s 23-acre mixed-use development is back. Located on the edge of the Westshore District bridging the way to Downtown, The Bromley Company’s vision of enriching the neighborhood to serve as a catalyst for the area has become a reality. Development involved seamlessly integrating the four major asset classes - office, retail, hotel and residential - into an authentic and natural design, creating – Midtown Commons and Midtown Lake. All the asset classes would face one of the two centers, providing intimate environments and some pretty cool community vibes. The project’s complexity was staggering - including 11 buildings, constructed simultaneously, with 4 general contractors and 750 workers on site, to be completed within a 24-month timetable, before the Superbowl in Tampa, which coincided with Midtown’s successful grand opening. The property includes 2,500 parking spaces, a 3-acre lake, created two point five miles of walking paths, a one-acre central Commons, five new project entrances, two new traffic light intersections, seven art pieces by global artists and a new internal road network coming together simultaneously to allow residents and visitors alike options to stay, play, dine, work, workout, shop or grab a drink without getting into a car from day one. Currently, residential is 95 percent leased and programming and community events define this vibrant, well-connected community. Further development underway includes investment in two additional towers for office and residential respectively. The judges wanted to head to Midtown for a great meal, some fun activities, and a little shopping. They loved the intention and detail brought into this transformational development.

• City of Tampa Mobility Department

Tampa MOVES is a groundbreaking initiative propelling Tampa towards a brighter, more connected, and sustainable future. The first Citywide Mobility Plan that will ultimately redesign Tampa’s streets, enhance walkability and biking infrastructure, and align resources for maximum impact, emerged from Mayor Jane Castor’s Transforming Tampa’s Tomorrow strategic initiative. What does MOVES stand for? The letters are extracted from the plan's guiding principles: Mobility for All, Economic Opportunity, Vision for Strong Neighborhoods, Transportation Equity, and Safety. Through the mobility plan both near and long-term transportation priorities and projects have been identified through an equitable, data-driven process. The plan outlines the current needs, long-term vision, and policies and strategies to achieve the vision and will be used to direct the next thirty years of investment. More than making the City's streets safer, it serves as the guiding framework for how and where the Tampa will grow, change and redevelop into the future. At its core, the MOVES plan is about enhancing the quality of life for Tampa's residents. It strives to improve safety, particularly for vulnerable roadway users, and advocates for effective transit solutions. Additionally, the plan carefully considers land use and transportation system gaps within the City, promoting a sense of place in Tampa's many diverse neighborhoods. Tampa MOVES builds on the Mobility Section of the Tampa Comprehensive Plan and technical standards will be updated next to reflect the context sensitive approach. #LiveGrowThrive2045 The plan was developed through extensive community engagement over two years that included Citywide Listen First Meetings, a Vision Zero Safety Survey, Focus Groups, walking audits, and town halls. The community feedback was used to understand existing mobility challenges, opportunities, and desires to shape the vision of transportation in Tampa. The Mobility Plan prioritizes investing in existing transportation assets, completing the multi-modal network by filling sidewalk gaps, connecting the bike network and increasing safe crossings, supporting effective transit, making streets safer for everyone, re-purposing streets for people, and managing congestion. Tampa MOVES paints a visionary picture for the City in 2050, where half of all commuters choose to walk, bike, or use transit. It envisions reduced transportation costs for households, fostering a safe and equitable transportation system that supports economic growth, enhances quality of life, and promotes a sustainable and resilient city. The judges were moved by this excellent multi-modal plan, praising how the community was immersed throughout the planning process in a variety of innovative ways in the production of this well-designed plan that is easily accessible on the City’s web site.

• Strategic Property Partners
• Elkus Manfredi Architects
• Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architecture
• Of Place

One of the largest and most innovative urban real estate developments in the country, Water Street Tampa has created an entirely new neighborhood that connects the city’s central business district with its waterfront. Strategic Property Partners engaged the world’s best talent in urban planning, architecture, and design to realize its vision for the 56-acre, nine million square foot development. Helping Tampa meet its long-term goal of creating a city that is more seamless and community oriented, Water Street Tampa established a place with an emphasis on the public realm. Evolving from a successful public-private partnership between developers, local government, and community leaders, SPP partnered with the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County to build the missing infrastructure required to support new downtown development, effectively bringing Water Street Tampa to fruition while also creating better connectivity for the city and priming it for successful future development. To date, the neighborhood has added over 600,000 SF of new commercial space, including the first new office tower in Tampa’s Downtown in 30 years and the City's first five-star hotel; nearly 1,300 new residences; dozens of new restaurants and retailers; acres of new public space including parks, plazas and a redesigned street grid; and Sparkman Wharf, a waterfront park featuring a dining garden, event lawn, retail and office space. Connected by pedestrian-oriented streets and 13-acres of new public space, Water Street Tampa has introduced a dynamic, walkable, community-oriented lifestyle to Tampa’s urban core for the first time, changing the way residents and visitors experience the City’s downtown. It’s a destination that provides all the necessities of daily life in one beautiful, connected place complemented by verdant landscaping, public spaces, and new transportation options. In addition to its impressive scale, Water Street Tampa is notable for its design with wellness and connectivity in mind. It is the world’s first WELL Precertified Community as recognized by the International Well Building Institute, as well as the world’s first WiredScore SmartScore Precertified Neighborhood. With a focus on walkability, sustainability, technology, resiliency and innovation, Water Street Tampa is setting a global precedent for wellness-based design in the built environment. Recently recognized by ULI Americas Awards for Excellence as one of the top ten new developments in the western hemisphere, our jury could not have agreed more. Water Street Tampa's impact on our city and our region is undeniable, creating jobs, generating revenue, weaving wellness into the fabric of the community, taking Tampa to the next level. The innovation and collaboration were off the charts redefining new approaches for this truly transformative development.

• Hillsborough County Community and Infrastructure Planning

Wimauma was founded in 1902 along a railroad route and has experienced significant change over the years. Today, agriculture remains a main source of jobs and family-owned taquerias and small businesses line the main road through this diverse community. Experiencing a population boom, Wimauma is on pace to double its current 16,000 residents in the next 20 years. In 2007, Hillsborough County worked with residents and community partners to create a Wimauma Community Plan. The plan was developed embracing the priorities of safety, its traditional small-town character, clustered housing, preservation of native habitats, recreational opportunities, and developing commercial opportunities. In response to rapidly changing demographics, the Wimauma Community Plan went through an extensive update process with the residents and stakeholders a decade later. In 2020, the updated plan became a cornerstone vision codified within the Comprehensive Plan Livable Communities Element and reforms in the County’s Land Development Code. In 2022, the Action Plan was developed to implement the Community Plan to strategically lay out the foundational sequence of specific steps with timelines attainable to complete. The County retained Urban 3 to create a 3D visualization of land use economics for different land use scenarios that illustrated the market dynamics created by tax and land use policies. The County also engaged the University of South Florida and Florida Center for Community Design and Research for community engagement. The input from residents, stakeholder groups, and various governmental agencies was pivotal in developing an Action Plan that truly reflects the community’s desires and path to bright Wimauma’s future. Momentum sparked by the Action Plan has already inspired the County Commission to allocate more than $100 million in capital projects. FDOT is designing Complete Streets concepts for Wimauma's main thoroughfare. And, Hillsborough County Public School District is already constructing new schools. A County Park with a community center and regional library is in the works. In September, the Wimauma Downtown Revitalization Action Plan was awarded at APA’s Florida Planning Conference. Our judges loved the strategic focus of this easy-to-read plan and praised the recognition of the need to revisit the plan often to ensure implementation continues. A testament to meaningful public involvement, the community was engaged throughout the process planning for both change and preservation.

• City of Tampa
• Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency | Ybor CRA
• TECO
• KCI Technologies

Twenty-one new iconic lighted archways were installed along Ybor City's historic 7th Avenue, named one of the greatest streets in America by the American Planning Association. The original archways were installed more than 30 years ago for the National Historic Landmark District's centennial celebration had slowly deteriorated over time. The success of this project hinged on the strong partnerships forged between the Ybor City CRA and several regional partners, that worked together to fabricate environmentally sustainable lighted structures to span Ybor’s premier commercial corridor. More than just aesthetic enhancements, they incorporate soft LED lights equipped with daylight sensors, ensuring energy and cost efficiency by automatically illuminating at dusk and dimming at dawn. To withstand hurricane-force winds, wind-resistant iron poles were installed. Every innovation was approved by the Barrio Latino Commission in accordance with strict historic preservation guidelines. The cost of the project was approximately $2.4 million between the planning and conceptualization that commenced in November 2022 and was completed ahead of schedule in March 2023. This project could not have moved forward without the ultra-collaborative partnership among the Ybor City CRA, City Mobility, Tampa Electric, KCI Technologies, Sam Schwartz, and Tampa Bay Construction & Engineering. Through inter-industry teamwork, a design concept was developed that could be fabricated and installed within budget and historic guidelines. Because the project was so heavily supported by the community, its cost was prioritized and funded over multiple fiscal years, primarily through the Ybor City Community Redevelopment Area Tax Increment Finance funds and City of Tampa Mobility general funds. The judges lit up learning about this intricate collaboration that required precision and creativity while preserving the legacy of these glowing archways. They gave an Award of Outstanding Contribution to the Community in the Lighting Category, but also deemed it worthy of the Jan Abell Award for Outstanding Contribution in Historic Preservation… A testament to beautifully blending history and resiliency, innovation and collaboration heavy on community emphasis to preserve Ybor City's historic legacy as we light our path to the future.

• Hillsborough County Public Works
• Mosquito Management Services

Communities in Hillsborough County are affected by high mosquito counts that are a nuisance and can ultimately decrease our economic and public health. Mosquitoes begin their lives in bodies of water, natural or man-made, and the best method to protect yourself from mosquito-borne diseases is by dumping or tightly covering containers of water. Hillsborough County Mosquito Management Services needed a way to educate citizens about this protection method. In 2019 a group of mosquito management staff paired up with the very creative County Communications department and came up with a mobile educational laboratory they called the Mosquito Ninja Dojo to educate citizens how to "fight" back against mosquitoes. This Dojo on wheels can be moved to different public education events, reaching citizens in all areas of Hillsborough County. It’s even wheelchair accessible. There are visual components for people of all ages, and videos with sound and closed captioning. People can learn about the different types of mosquitoes, where you find them, and how you can manage or control them. Kids love this immersive and engaging experience. Residents barely notice they’re learning about mosquito biology and mosquito management services provided by Hillsborough County, because they are having so much fun! The judges loved the mobile education lab concept to be innovative, compelling, and easily transferable.

• Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg
• Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Services

Catholic Charities operates homeless shelters, pregnancy centers, and free medical clinics. They also provide adoption and immigration services, mental health counseling, and financial assistance. Another strategic focus for them is affordable housing, a critical need for more people than ever with skyrocketing prices for homeowners and renters alike. Mercy Oaks Apartments was created to enhance the surrounding community by converting a vacated motel lot into a beautiful, but affordable twenty-unit apartment building. Beyond aesthetically improving the community through its design, residents are uplifted with accommodations that enhance their dignity. While saving on rent, they are able to become contributing members of the community, start saving, and have money to buy goods and services they need. Mercy Oaks is located in one of the poorest areas in Tampa impacting those with the greatest needs for shelter and better access to needed medical resources and healthier food options. Proximity to public transportation, medical facilities, grocery stores and food pantries, pharmacies, and businesses, also reduces the need for more expensive private transportation. The Catholic Charities Diocese also integrated their resident/tenant sourcing with Mercy Oaks, so it can serve as a ‘path of least resistance’ destination for eligible clients of their Tampa Hope homeless shelter. Other resident services include case management, mental health counseling, and more. This partnership with Hillsborough County enhances the public initiative to reduce the critical need for affordable housing throughout the county. A targeted outreach campaign attracts low-income tenants to qualify for these quality apartments beneath fair market rent. The judges thought this special partnership was a match made in heaven. They found this important collaboration and integration of housing and vital services to serve as a pathway from homelessness towards independence and economic stability uplifting to the community. 

• FleischmanGarciaMaslowski Architecture

A 350-seat venue with four flexible dance studios, the New Tampa Performing Arts Center design combines functionality with creativity creating a visually stunning performing arts center that is now a landmark for the community. The architecture is directly inspired by the surrounding natural preserves. The slender columns are in dialogue with the surrounding cypress trees transitioning from exterior to interior. Inside the lobby, floating wood elements pick up on the choreography and the red recess portals define the entry to the auditorium. As patrons enter the auditorium, floating wood elements and red acoustical panels greet them. The auditorium seats are retractable to transform the room from a theater venue to a multi-purpose room for various types of events perfect for lectures, weddings, or community gatherings. The stage includes a manual counterweight system and a loft gallery to create a full working stage for enhanced performances. The dance studios can be divided into four studio rooms to accommodate varying sizes of arts educational programs. The facility also features several sustainable initiatives, including expansive windows in the lobby, deep roof overhangs, the use of native, drought-resistant plants, electrical vehicle charging stations, and solar panels for a renewable energy source. The judges applauded not only the stunning structure and interiors but the incorporation of energy efficient and sustainable features into the design. They gave a standing ovation to Hillsborough County for investing in this stunning facility that will provide ongoing opportunities linking our youth to community and culture in such an artistic way.

• Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners
• Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department
• The Mosaic Company

Nestled in the heart of Riverview is a conservation park like no other. Prior to Hillsborough County acquiring the property in 2018, the parcel was approved for 35 single family homes with accompanying roadways, streetlights, and other residential amenities. This development would have increased traffic in an already congested area and may have had negative environmental impacts on the Alafia River. The County had a different vision for the land: a passive, nature-based conservation park. At only 27-acres, the park offers accessible walking trails, shelters, restrooms, and a river overlook. These amenities result in opportunities for the public to view wildlife, gather socially, and connect with nature in a rapidly developing urban setting. The park offers a quarter-mile paved loop trail through a sandhill community, and a half-mile natural surface hiking trail that winds through an old growth oak forest and around. To pay respect to the history of the property, a sculpture named “Sovereign” stands at the trail entrance, greeting visitors. Paying tribute to the Seminoles’ national independence, Sovereign reflects a Seminole woman in traditional, though modernized, Native American dress. Although small, the park provides ecosystem services such as aquifer recharge, flood protection, and air quality enhancements. In the past, a property of this size would not have been considered for a conservation park. Pebble Park’s success has shown that small parcels of land should not be overlooked as opportunities for passive recreation and environmental conservation. The judges loved the prioritization of the need for parkland to serve the community and protect imperiled habitats amidst so much development. They were impressed by the articulation of a land acknowledgment through art expression.

• The Skills Center
• WJ Architects
• WJCreate Construction | DuCon Construction

The Skills Center Collaborative, in partnership with WJ Architects and WJCreate Construction|, are creating a dedicated home for The Skills Center program with the construction of a renovated 55,000 SF state-of-the-art facility in East Tampa. Catering to ages three to eighteen, the center offers an integrated approach to personal growth, combining sports training, academic enrichment, and life skills education. The project involved a robust stakeholder process. The team surveyed the needs of the community using local community assessments as well as regional data to confirm the services, demographics, and location of the facility. They engaged youth in focus groups, conducted presentations, and provided tours to residents, local leaders, community organizations, and other stakeholders. The comprehensive renovation plan breathes new life into the existing building. Among the additions are seminar-style training rooms, a state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen to serve as a hub for culinary exploration, an innovative E-sports training area that caters to the evolving interests of young athletes, and a versatile multipurpose space for sports skills training. The Skills Center will generate over one hundred eighty jobs, provide services to more than 3,500 young people, and will have an economic impact of more than Twenty-Five million dollars in East Tampa over the next five years. The judges were all-in on this team collaboration renovation and expansion project creating a facility that will level the playing field in education, health, and workforce readiness for young people in our community. This good example of reuse and redevelopment will add a vibrancy to the community and change lives, placing our youth on a path to a thriving future.

• Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management Department
• Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc.

Hillsborough County manages five Community Collection Centers, sites where residential customers can conveniently drop off residential waste. For various reasons, quality reusable goods are often disposed of where they will eventually be taken to the landfill or waste-to-energy facility for disposal. This loss of resources and the associated cost of disposal of quality items inspired an idea and partnership. Goodwill–Suncoast shared they were experiencing similar issues but in reverse. They often receive donation boxes from residents with non-donatable goods. Several of their unmanned donation drop-off sites are subjected to illegal dumping and weather elements, also causing quality donatable goods to become trash. With the Donation and Waste Diversion Program, residents can drop off their waste and donations at select Community Collection Centers, dispelling any confusion as to if their item is donatable. Goodwill keeps staff and a donation trailer on site, provides tax donation receipts, and takes donations directly out of the resident’s car for their convenience and safety. This program has made a huge impact since its launch in September 2022, diverting about 49,000 pounds of material, rescuing over 29,000 items, and has been used by nearly 1,100 donors. Every donation item saved from disposal is also not wasting the resources, water, energy, emissions, labor, and transportation that went into creating the reusable good. The judges did not waste any time, agreeing on how this simple concept is so genius at the same time. This innovative partnership can be easily emulated by other communities, turning good intentions into a more sustainable future for all of us.

• Hillsborough County Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department
• Congressman Vern Buchanan
• Southwest Florida Water Management District
• Tampa Bay Estuary Program

The Little Manatee River is a blackwater river that flows approximately 50 miles from its source in southeastern Hillsborough County, through portions of Manatee County, and ultimately discharges into Tampa Bay. Considered one of the most pristine rivers in the Tampa Bay watershed, it significantly contributes to the health of the estuary. Recently, elected officials from Hillsborough County collaborated with Congressman Vern Buchanan to draft the Little Manatee Wild and Scenic River Act, which was passed into law in 2022. Concurrently, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, SWFWMD, and Hillsborough County have been making steady progress to protect and restore this pristine waterway. With support from the Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund, the Little Manatee River Conceptual Restoration Plan was completed in 2018. The plan involved mapping the extent of existing habitats, hydrologic and archaeological resources, and creating preliminary budget estimates and conceptual restoration designs of the different habitats within the watershed. Restoration and enhancement projects were ranked and prioritized for implementation over the next 10 - 20 years. The locally developed Conceptual Restoration Plan and National Wild and Scenic River Designation are examples of the holistic, long-range approach needed to bring local, state, and federal partners together for the benefit of protecting natural spaces within Hillsborough County and beyond. The judges loved the scope of the partnerships and support from stakeholders for this critical environmental and water quality protection project.

• Van Ayres
• Chris Farkas
• Harvard Jolly | PBK
• BECK

Hillsborough County Public Schools has completed the master plan for a much-needed education complex in South County. Situated on an 86-acre property along the southern edge of Lake Wimauma, this state-of-the-art facility includes a high school and a future middle and elementary school. The district conducted traffic analysis, evaluation of bus routes, reviewed the student capacity of adjacent schools and determined the community would be best served with a master plan of three schools in District Four. The 350,000 SF high school will bring 3,400 student stations to the community and provide relief for adjacent schools. This project fostered a unique partnership between Hillsborough County Schools and Lennar Homes. Collaboration on the design of West Lake Drive ahead of construction will help better handle the projected pedestrian and vehicular traffic and improve the safety of our roadways, pedestrian walkways, and utilities and ensure development will meet expected growth and traffic. Built to withstand hurricane force winds with backed-up systems, the new school will house those required to evacuate during weather events. The judges gave high grades for this efficient, forward-looking school plan. They loved the design and were impressed by the vision and forethought of planning hand-in-hand with a housing developer to anticipate immediate and long-term needs and growth.

• Cowboys and Pirates LLC
• Halff
• Design Styles Architecture
• Molloy & James

Sitting in one of the nation’s top ten growing counties and destined to be the next area of growth within Tampa, this new development will feature eight apartments ranging from 700 SF to 939 SF on the second floor, with two retail spaces and a parking garage on the first. The elegant design and modern aesthetics give a revamped and stylish look to the corner lot of North Boulevard that once was abandoned and desolate. This mixed-use development can help build on economic growth in an area that has seen the recent addition of a brewery just a few feet away. This neighborhood has been experiencing Missing Middle Housing and The Landing at Riverwalk will be the first step in addressing this scarcity. The hope is this small mixed-use development will be a catalyst for others to invest within the general community and spark continued development for years to come. With the adoption of the proposed plans in July 2023, Phase 1 is set to be completed by 2025 and will hopefully be just the first of a multi-phase project that will redefine a once abandoned and desolate area within the City of Tampa. The judges were ready to move right into this very cool, small mixed-use development. They were impressed by the projects’ focus on expanding missing middle housing and its ability to add a vibrancy previously not seen in the neighborhood.

Special awards were presented that were not selected by our jury.

Created by the Florida Legislature in 1986 to coordinate planning and development activities among three government jurisdictions in and around the Hillsborough River, the River Board adopted and maintains the River Master Plan and makes recommendations for the river's continued vitality to local governments, regulatory agencies, and others. Each year, the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board & Technical Advisory Council (TAC) recognize leadership and dedication in the protection of the health and well-being of the Hillsborough River. Board Chair, County Commissioner Michael Owen, was joined on stage with fellow Board members, Vice Chair - Temple Terrace Councilmember Allison Fernandez, and Tampa Councilmember, Lynn Hurtak and TAC members to present the 2023 Hillsborough River Stewardship Award to he Adventure Outfitters. Anna, Robert, Jenny, and Alex Blevins have embraced the Hillsborough River and Tampa Bay waterways with an unwavering commitment to environmental preservation. They've made it their mission to embark on underwater adventures, not just to teach and explore, but also to purge our precious river and waterways of accumulated trash. They, quite literally dive into action, making regular underwater forays into Marjorie Park and Garrison Channel diving for debris. Since 2021, Adventure Outfitters has dedicated over 300 volunteer hours that has yielded tangible results, as they've successfully removed a staggering 7,400 pounds of debris and 400 pounds of electronics and way too many electric scooters. Green initiatives have been incorporated into their own business and teach invaluable lessons in environmental protection to their students. In every facet of their operations, Adventure Outfitters champions sustainability by using only reusable water bottles, washable waste collection bags, and reusable gloves. More than just a dive business, Adventure Outfitters serves as a beacon for environmental stewardship, preserving our ecosystems and the health of our natural treasure – the beautiful Hillsborough River.

The Chair of the Planning Commission selects a project each year. This year, Chair Nigel Joseph honored the SouthShore Sportsplex with the Chairman’s Award. Hillsborough County is in a transformative period of growth. What once was a tranquil South County is now Hillsborough’s fastest growing area. The Waterset master-planned community is a development of grand scale and a testament to this growth. And in the heart of this evolving landscape now stands the initial phase of the SouthShore Sportsplex. Early in 2019, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners gave the green light to develop a regional sports complex in SouthShore. Phase 1 of the Sportsplex now boasts the world's largest FIFA certified artificial sports field. Designed for soccer, lacrosse, and football, it redefines the scope of multi-use regional public recreation facilities. Also included are concession and rest facilities, a state-of-the-art playground, sprawling picnic shelters, serene water features, and ample parking. Set to commence in 2024, Phase 2 will bring softball and baseball fields and additional amenities. Serving about 40,000 residents within a 10-minute drive, the SouthShore Sportsplex embodies Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation's mission of promoting community health and well-being. The uniquely designed four contiguous synthetic turf sports fields with preprinted lining adapts accommodate a multitude of sports, fostering flexibility and versatility. It also conserves resources and land, making it both cost-effective and eco-friendly. To ensure the SouthShore Sportsplex offers a diverse range of programs that resonate with the community, the Parks Department conducted extensive public engagement that included surveying the preferences and needs of County residents. The results are in, and this County Parks and Recreation team is truly outstanding in its field… and what a stunning place for play this field is. Congratulations to the Hillsborough County BOCC, Rick Valdez, Chris Postiglione, Jason MacKenzie, and the Parks and Recreation Department for reimagining the future of regional athletics, recreation, and sports tourism facilities to address the immediate needs of a growing South County populace, while at the same time supporting continued investments in healthy recreation across the broader Tampa Bay region!

Planning Commission Executive Director Melissa Zornitta.. FAICP, presented the 2023 Executive Director’s Award to the City of Plant City for the McIntosh Preserve. In 1998, a vision took root when the Florida Communities Trust and the Hillsborough County Environmental Land Acquisition and Protection Program joined forces to acquire approximately 363-acres of land. This land was destined to become the McIntosh Preserve — a testament to the power of collaboration and conservation. One hundred-acres of what was pastureland was transformed into a thriving prairie wetland which acts as a natural filter, purifying stormwater from pollutants and nutrients, safeguarding our precious aquatic ecosystems, and ultimately, ensuring the health of the Floridan aquifer. The McIntosh Preserve is a treasure trove of diverse vegetative communities and is a natural haven is also home to a wide array of wildlife. It provides much needed recreational opportunities in Eastern Hillsborough County as visitors can enjoy walking trails, a boardwalk, and an observation tower allowing the public to immerse themselves in nature. This is a testament to the commitment of the Preserve's stewards, the City of Plant City and their Parks Department, who ensure the beauty and benefits of this remarkable place are accessible to all.

Lynn Merenda | merendal@plancom.org | Direct: 813.547.3342

Brynn Dauphinais | dauphinaisb@plancom.org | Direct: 813.386.5981

Harmoni McGee | mcgeeh@plancom.org | Direct: 813.582.7368

Website: PlanHillsborough.org