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Planting Nears For Commons

By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR

cpastor@tampatrib.com

Published: February 25, 2009

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Shimberg Gardens is anything but green right now, but shade and landscaping is coming its way.

The 4-acre park by Town 'N Country Commons has a playground, gazebo, walkway and a lot of smooth, tan dirt.

Several community groups are working with Hillsborough County to not only change that but enhance what the gardens might otherwise receive in tight economic times. The county provides the basics, and the community can raise additional money to add what the county can't pay for, such as bigger trees for instant shade.

"You can't have a park without shade," said Rob Gamester, who is involved with the Town 'N Country Garden Circle.

The club has raised more than $60,000 since 2004 to supplement the gardens. It got a big boost this year with $25,000 worth of grants for trees, shrubs and low-volume irrigation.

The grants are coming in the form of 10 smaller ones at $2,500 each. Bay Crest Park Civic Association, Friends of the Town 'N Country Regional Library, Timberlane/Woodlake Civic Association, Town 'N Country Park Civic Association and the Twelve Oaks Civic Association applied for and received two grants each from the county.

The groups are contributing their portions to the park landscaping.

One grant is for tree planting and shrubs, funded by tree-cutting fines and money collected when developers remove and do not replant trees, said Wanda Sloan, neighborhood services program coordinator. The other will pay for low-volume irrigation systems.

The grants are matching grants, Sloan said. Recipients can match with labor instead of money at a $15 per hour rate.

Planting is expected to start in March or April. The county has a list of Florida-friendly plants that will be low-maintenance, and forester Rob Northrop has also made suggestions for the park.
Shimberg Gardens is part of Town 'N Country Commons, 7606 Paula Drive, which opened in December. It includes a Head Start facility, senior center and library.

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (813) 865-1503.

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