The city of Tampa held a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 12, 2024, for its new 48-acre MacDill 48 Park.
The property will serve three roles:
- Help alleviate flooding by storing stormwater runoff.
- Improve water quality within Hillsborough Bay by treating runoff and removing pollutants.
- Provide a huge passive park with a walking trail and natural features.
New Tampa park features stormwater management methods
The park features a 1-mile partially paved walking and bicycling trail that weaves through the forested canopy that surrounds a 10-acre, 25-million-gallon stormwater pond. Residents can access the trail, covered picnic tables, pond-side benches, a 14-foot-wide boardwalk over a natural wetland, and all the natural features through three entrances – two more entrances will be added.
Residents will notice native fish, gopher tortoises, large birds including bald eagles and other Florida wildlife that call the park home. No cars will be allowed in the park. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be welcomed from sunrise to sunset.
The stormwater pond in the middle of the park will allow the city to maximize flood relief within the southeast portion of the Lower Peninsula Watershed, which includes most of the area south of El Prado Boulevard.
The project also includes more than 12,000 linear feet of box culverts, pipes and drainage inlets.
Green infrastructure has been added to reduce the discharge of nutrients, oils, sediments and floating debris into Hillsborough Bay. The park could provide significant benefits in flood-prone parts of the city.
The park was recently honored with an excellence in engineering and public works award from the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Public Works Association and the American Council of Engineering Companies.
“MacDill 48 Park seamlessly combines form with function, bringing much needed stormwater infrastructure to the surrounding community, while also providing a beautiful space for all to enjoy,” Mayor Jane Castor said in a press release. “Thanks to the tireless work of our team members, and regional community partners, we are ecstatic to include this extraordinary place in our award-winning park system and our growing list of major infrastructure upgrades.”
History of MacDill 48 Park
The MacDill 48 property was purchased from Hillsborough County in September 2003 through the Environmental Lands Acquisition Protection Program (ELAPP).
ELAPP helps identify and protect environmentally sensitive land within Hillsborough County.
Building out the $51.4 million project was largely funded through grants and outside sources, including a $25 million Resilient Florida Grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and a $12.5 million contribution from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
The city of Tampa funded the remaining $13.9 million.
