Florida Construction News staff writer
The City of Tampa is expanding the Neighborhoods Design-Build Project to include a pilot program that will add hundreds of trees across two communities. This is in addition to installing more than 19 miles of water transmission lines in four neighborhoods and repairing more than 24 miles of wastewater pipelines in two neighborhoods.
Next on the list is MacFarlane Park where crews recently started replacing more than five miles of water pipeline that will:
- Improve water pressure and enhance water quality.
- Improve fire protection for residential areas.
- Reduce water infrastructure breaks.
Improvements to the neighborhood’s wastewater system were previously completed.
Over the next several months, crews will also plant about 200 trees across Macfarlane Park and Virginia Park to enhance the neighborhoods, increase Tampa’s urban forest, and help in the City’s mission to plant 30,000 trees by 2030.
“The City of Tampa is committed to investing in our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Jane Castor. “This project will not only make crucial infrastructure improvements below ground but will also make improvements to the City’s overall landscape.”
Tampa’s $92 million Neighborhood Design-Build project will make vital infrastructure improvements to Macfarlane Park, Forest Hills, Virginia Park, and East Tampa. Construction of the overall project is close to 50% completed, with work at Macfarlane Park scheduled to be finished in the Fall.
Water and wastewater infrastructure updates are funded through Tampa’s PIPES plan (Progressive Infrastructure Planning to Ensure Sustainability). The $2.9 Billion funding plan will transform the City’s 100-year-old water and wastewater infrastructure, serving approximately 725,000 people. Since 2021, more than 45 miles of water pipeline has been replaced.
