Tampa, Florida’s MacDill 48 Park Celebrated for Providing Nature-Based Stormwater Mitigation 

TAMPA, Fla. — The national Engineering & Public Works Roadshow celebrated Tampa, Florida’s MacDill 48 Park for its nature-based solution to frequent flooding events in the surrounding communities.

The press conference and walking tour of the soon-to-be-opened 48-acre park featured City officials, the Stormwater Engineering Division of Tampa’s Mobility Department, Tampa Parks and Recreation, Atkins – the project designer, and Kimmins Contracting Corp. – the project contractor.   

MacDill 48 Park, a 48-acre wildlife oasis located in the middle of one of Tampa’s densest neighborhoods, uses nature-based solutions to support the local ecosystem and provides a 500-acre drainage basin for stormwater to reduce flooding stress on nearby communities. Stormwater will drain into a pond at the park and be absorbed by the surrounding vegetation, while remaining stormwater will be discharged into Hillsborough Bay. Green infrastructure solutions help prevent debris, unwanted nutrients and oils from discharging into Hillsborough Bay. The park also offers a scenic one-mile trail for residents to enjoy for recreation.

“Hurricane Helene has highlighted how vital it is for our communities to be resilient. It reminds us that by working together and preparing effectively, we can minimize the impacts of severe weather and support one another during challenging times,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. “MacDill 48 Park exemplifies Tampa’s dedication to sustainability. This green space not only enhances our urban environment but also contributes to biodiversity, alleviates flooding, and aligns with our long-term environmental goals.”

Despite the record storm surge Tampa experienced through Hurricane Helene, MacDill 48 Park remained intact because its design withstood flooding levels with several additional feet of water rise to spare. 

“I personally have been through a flooding event where we lost everything, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate projects like this,” said Marsia Geldert-Murphey, P.E., ASCE Past-President. “These projects are so important because they can prevent people from ever having to deal with losing their property or losing a loved one because of a storm event. We as engineers have created solutions that can keep this from happening.”

The Engineering and Public Works Roadshow is the first time the leading organizations representing the designers and public operators of America’s infrastructure – the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), the American Public Works Association (APWA), and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) – have joined together to shine a spotlight on what successful infrastructure investment means for the nation’s economy, jobs, the environment, and our future.

“People make great engineers, but the best engineer is Mother Nature,” said Peter Moore, P.E., ACEC Vice Chair. “When we take a gray approach to things, building infrastructure to solve resiliency needs like building a seawall, we have to make a lot of assumptions, and all those assumptions can be overdone by a rainstorm that’s one inch greater than the storm we designed for. Mother Nature has the ability to adapt and cover other disasters and potential impacts we don’t even see coming.”

As the federal government continues to implement the monumental Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which included a record $50 billion for resilience needs across the U.S., the engineering and public works professions must expand their current workforces. It is imperative that students nationwide are educated on the rewarding careers of civil engineering and public works so that these professions have the necessary staffing to complete transformative and sustainable projects like MacDill 48 Park.