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Past, Present Meet In Garden

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 5, 2008

WIMAUMA - WIMAUMA - South Hillsborough residents of all ages recently came together for a new project that honors the past while literally laying the groundwork for generations to come.

On June 27, the Hillsborough County Department of Aging Services celebrated the revitalization of the Wimauma Intergenerational Community Garden with a dedication ceremony.

The garden is within the grounds of the Wimauma Senior Center, 5714 North St.

Bart Banks, interim director for the Department of Aging Services, started the festivities by welcoming everyone in attendance, including representatives from his department, senior center clients and employees, and students from the county's Head Start program, as well as Collins and Wimauma elementary schools.

"We're very honored to have you all here," Banks said. "This project would not have been possible without a lot of people's hard work.

Susan Dietrick, the center's coordinator, said the revitalization project has been in the making for about three years.

Before the idea to revitalize the land, the garden - which is adjacent to the old Wimauma Cannery and was once a focal point of the community - had been dormant for nearly 15 years.

"Officially, the garden wasn't completed until yesterday June 26," said Gerald Rudolph, who works at the center, shortly after the dedication ceremony. "I think it looks pretty good and we're all very proud of it."

The idea behind bringing the garden back was to strengthen the Wimauma community by providing an educational and eco-friendly setting for past and future generations to meet.

Features of the new garden include a walkway leading up to a 10-by-10-foot gazebo, as well as new benches, tables and dozens of native plants.

Many of those plants were placed in the ground during a Plant Day event May 17 and 18.

The revitalization was made possible through a Community for a Lifetime Initiative grant of more than $12,000 given by the West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging to plan and implement improvements that benefit residents young and old.

Toward the end of the dedication ceremony, the head start students presented their contributions to the garden - potted plants they placed along the entrance.

Frances Nieto of Aging Services helped each of the youngsters find a place for their plants and, hopefully, make a mark that will last for years.

"This garden is for all of you and all of Wimauma to enjoy for a long time," Nieto said.

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555 or jceballos@tampatrib.com.

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