The Hillsborough County Planning Commission has recognized Plant City’s efforts to build up the community while preserving the past, and as of this week, the City of Plant City has a new trophy in its case.
Each year, the Planning Commission honors local governments for recent projects that have demonstrated excellence in planning and design. At the 32nd annual awards ceremony Oct. 30, Plant City was named the winner of an award for investment in public-private partnership, and specifically, for historic preservation. The city won the award based on its support and success regarding the train viewing platform and Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum, which opened in February.
Gary Pike, a planning commissioner and Plant City resident, presented the trophy to the city commissioners at their meeting Monday, Nov. 10.
“Both the viewing platform and railroad museum have become major attractions for train enthusiasts,” Pike said. “If you’re not waiting for a train, you see other people waiting for a train. It has absolutely brought people here.”
In 2012, city commissioner Mike Sparkman applied for a $25,000 grant from CSX to start work on the viewing platform. The remaining $205,000 for museum construction was privately raised. No tax dollars were used. Pike said he did not know of any other Planning Commission award winners this year whose projects were funded entirely by private dollars.
The judges who selected Plant City as the winner of the award were: Merle Bishop, a certified public manager with 40 years of experience; Mary Kay Peck Delk, a past national president of the American Planning Association; and Jim Ward, sustainable development coordinator for the Orange County Planning Division.
“The judges said they loved the project, and it was a way to keep on track the city’s heritage,” Pike said. “They complimented us on extensive community involvement, donation of time, money created, private partnership that excelled all others.”
Last year, Plant City won an award from the Planning Commission for its redevelopment of Plant City Suncoast Community Health Center, and in 2012, for construction on the County Courthouse. City Commissioner Mary Mathis expects the success to continue.
“Next year, after we finish the Midtown project, I could see us bringing home another trophy. Our trophy case is getting kind of full out there,” she said.
In Other News
• City manager Mike Herr updated the commission on his efforts to get to know Plant City and its citizens. His next civic visit will be to the Lions Club meeting Nov. 25.
• Herr hopes to establish an annual Economic Summit to discuss business and financial trends in Plant City. This event is in only a conceptual planning stage as of now.
• The commission approved a resolution authorizing the purchase of 10 new tazers and accessories for the police department.
Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver.com.