TOWN ‘N COUNTRY GREENWAY

UNOFFICIAL NAMES OF POINTS OF INTEREST

HOELZER/HALE TRAIL - PAVED PATH

BIRD POND - MITIGATION AREA WEST OF ROCKY CREEK

OAK REST - REST AREA BY BIRD POND

OLD FLORIDA BRIDGE - BRIDGE OVER ROCKY CREEK

MANATEE POINT - CONVERGENCE OF ROCKY CREEK AND CHANNEL G

BONNY LANE - SPUR OFF HOELZER/HALE TRAIL TO MANATEE POINT

OAK GROVE - AREA JUST EAST OF ROCKY CREEK AND BY BONNIE LANE

CIVIC SHELTER - SHELTER NEXT TO WEBB ROAD

PINE FOREST - PINES JUST EAST OF WEBB ROAD

ALLIGATOR BRIDGE - BRIDGE BETWEEN WEBB ROAD AND HANLEY ROAD

SKYWAY VISTA - OPEN AREA BETWEEN SKYWAY PARK AND GEORGE ROAD BRIDGE

HORSE FARMS BRIDGE - BRIDGE OVER CHANNEL G - BY GEORGE ROAD

GEORGE OAK REST - REST AREA BY GEORGE ROAD
OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE TOWN ‘N COUNTRY GREENWAY

(And the involvement of the community - as of September 27, 2007)
1989 - Defeated proposal to make the area north of Channel G a six lane road (Sligh Avenue Extension).

1991 - 1993 TNC Park HOCA planted 600 slash pine seedlings. The first of the “Pine Forest” east of Webb Road. Seedlings received from recycling Christmas trees.

1992 - 1996 - TNC Park HOCA mowed, trimmed and maintained the “Pine Forest.”

1994 - SWFWMD transferred $350,000 to the County for maintenance of Channels A & G and adjacent properties. Suggested using the money for the trail.

1994 -1995 - TNC Park HOCA replaced slash pines that had not survived earlier or had been vandalized.

1995 - Became an official Florida Greenway.

1996 - Official opening of the Greenway. Approximately 1.3 miles. First trail in county

1996 - Greenway earned “People Vision” & “Best Environmental Project” awards for TNC Park HOCA

1996 - CIT funding for Greenway extension to Sheldon Road and George Road passed. To be completed in 2002.

1998 - TNC Park HOCA planted 3 queen palms, 3 sago palms, 3 Japanese plum trees near the water fountain. Built a butterfly garden at rest area near Shimberg Park. Planted giant Liriope at entrance on Webb Road and next to Shimberg Park.

1998 - TNC Park HOCA earned “Most Improved Neighborhood” award for work on the Greenway.

1999 - Defeated plan to build 30+ homes west of Webb Road north of Channel G on land for the planned extension of the Greenway.

2000 - Partnered with Parks & Recreation to erect a 15' X 15' shelter east of Webb Road with $4,444 donation from the TNC Park HOCA

2000 - Planted 57 Millennium Trees (Natchez crape myrtle) on each side of Hanley Road and east of Webb Road with the help of Parks & Recreation. TNC Park HOCA contributed $300 for project.

2000 - TNC Park HOCA planted 18 live oaks with the help of Parks & Recreation. Oaks were received from Hillsborough County mitigation.

2000 - 2001 - Provided input into the construction of the extension on the Greenway.

2000 - 2006 - Successfully lobbied the County for a safe route from Sheldon Road to the proposed YMCA, Alonso High School and Upper Tampa Bay Trail. $574,000 in CIT funds approved for project October 2005

2001 - TNC Park HOCA received a $1,000 grant from The Tampa Bay Estuary Program and removed 280 exotic, invasive Brazilian pepper trees along east side of Rocky Creek in partnership with ELAPP, Planning & Growth Management, and Parks

2001 - 2005 -TNC Park HOCA & TNC Garden Circle mulched, pruned watered and fertilized oaks and crape myrtles planted in 2000. Partnered with Parks & Recreation

2002 - TNC Garden Circle potted 250 slash pine seedlings donated by T.R.E.E. into 1 gallon containers for planting on the extension in 2003

2002 - Partnered with Boy Scout Troop #246 & Parks to removed exotic, invasive air potatoes from extension. Removed 755 air potatoes spuds.

2003 - Repotted 225 slash pine saplings donated by T.R.E.E. into 3 gallon containers for planting on the extension in 2003. Partnered with the TNC Garden Circle & TNC Youth Council.

2003 - Town ‘N Country Greenway Extension Landscaping Committee formed. Partnering with Hillsborough County Parks Planning and Parks & Trails, TNC Garden Circle, Green Thumb Nursery TNC Youth Council, TNC Park HOCA and Twelve Oaks Civic Association

2003 - TNC Park HOCA received $2,500 tree grant from Office of Neighborhood Relations to plant 25 live oaks on extension west of Webb Road. Oaks planted January 2004

2003 - Planted 178 slash pine saplings on the extension west of Webb Road. Pine saplings donated by T.R.E.E. Partnering with Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation, Town ‘N Country Youth Council & Town ‘N Country Garden Circle

2003 - $2,500 tree grant from Office of Neighborhood Relations received by Twelve Oaks Civic Association to plant 25 live oaks

2004 - Removed 2,250 exotic, invasive air potatoes on extension west of Webb Road. Partnering with Boy Scout Pack #246, Town ‘N County Youth Council and Hillsborough County Road Maintenance, West Service Unit

2004 - Defeated proposal to make the greenway an extension of Sligh Avenue

2004 - Completion of extension of the Greenway west of Webb Road to Sheldon Road and east of Shimberg Complex to George Road north of Channel G. Approximately 1 mile.

2004 - Building of bluebird houses by Town ‘N Country Youth Council for placement on greenway in winter 2005

2005 - Removal of invasive, exotic Brazilian pepper trees, lead trees and air potato vines from Rocky Creek to Sheldon Road. Parks, Recreation and Consevation, Hillsborough County Invasive Species Task Force, and TNC Youth Council

2005 - Placed 17 bluebird houses built by TNC Youth Council, built to Audubon specifications with help from TNC Home Depot

2005 - Planted 180 slash pine saplings from Shimberg Park east to Channel G. TNC Youth Council, TNC Garden Circle and Parks, Recreation and Conservation

2005 - Twleve Oaks Civic Association planted 25 live oaks planted east of Shimberg Park

2005 - Planted 4 - 30 gal Natchez crepe myrtle west of Webb Road via TNC Park HOCA grant from Sheriff’s Office. Planted by TNC Garden Circle & TNC Youth Council

2005 - Received funding for $574,000 in CIT funds to connect the greenway to the Upper Tampa Bay Trail to be completed end of 2008
Goal #5 of Town ‘N Country Community Plan

2006 - Planted 3 - 3 gal redbuds by Webb Road parking lot. Planted by TNC Garden Circle and TNC Youth Council

For more information call
Fran Gamester, President, Town ‘N Country Garden Circle 884-3462