The City of Tampa's first official AmeriCorp Green Team is preparing to graduate. In celebration of their accomplishments the team is completing a new trail as its final project at the New Tampa Nature Park.
Tampa's Green Team is an environmental stewardship program in partnership with AmeriCorps and Volunteer Florida that addresses many of the city's sustainability and resiliency goals.
The Green Team has helped plant about 250 trees and more than 6,000 plants at various City of Tampa parks, removed more than 850 pounds of invasive plant species, picked up 30,000 pounds of litter and completed more than 150 hours of environmental education with Tampa's youth summer camp programs.
Each member of the team is passionate about creating a healthy environment for future generations. They have had the opportunity to collaborate with many local partners, such as Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful and various neighborhood organizations to complete environmental projects and staff community events that both educate and engage city residents with nature.
Additionally, the Green Team has helped develop a guided Nature Walk and Park Finder Challenge, as well as educational trail signage at multiple parks. They spearheaded an informational tree tagging project in efforts to bring attention to the various native trees throughout the city, in tandem with the city’s strategy to plant 30,000 trees by 2030.
The City of Tampa has partnered again with Volunteer Florida and AmeriCorps to continue this environmental stewardship program in the State of Florida.
Members of the new, incoming class will continue to work with a variety of city departments and partnering non-profits to help make the community and earth a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable place to work, live and play.
Media outlets interested in interviewing members of the soon-to-graduate Green Team or the City of Tampa Sustainability and Resilience Officer at the team's final project are asked to email media@tampagov.net