The City of Tampa is partnering with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful to invite a dozen local artists to create works of art on storm drain concrete tops at Robles Park in Tampa.
The artists' designs will focus on the "Only Rain Down the Drain" educational campaign educating citizens on why they should not dump pollutants down the drain.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, stormwater runoff is the number one threat to water quality in the nation. In Tampa, every time it rains, pesticides, excess fertilizer, oils and detergents, lawn and street debris, and other pollutants drain into ditches, canals, and rivers, which then ultimately drain directly into Tampa Bay.
These newly painted storm drains will be visible reminders to the public that our neighborhoods and waterways are closely connected and need to be protected. They will also help to further beautify Robles Park.
The Storm Drain Art Local Artist Initiative was made possible through a $10,000 grant from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council to Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful. Robles Park will be the second neighborhood to display these unique works of art on inlet concrete tops. A similar project was completed in South Seminole Heights in 2018.