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Neighborhood report

'Friends' group mapping a plan for Kiley Gardens

They want art and the landscape architect's vision to be part of the restoration of the site along the river.

By JONATHAN MILTON
Published March 3, 2006

Just off Ashley Drive, past the zooming cars and away from the hammering of construction crews, a small group is at work on what once was a beautiful and serene garden.

The last Saturday of each month, Friends of Kiley Gardens meet to clean up the site along the Hillsborough River near Ashley Drive and Kennedy Boulevard and brainstorm ways to repair it permanently.

The group of architects, residents and activists got its start in August after Charles Birnbaum of the National Parks Service and the Cultural Landscape Foundation toured and spoke about the park.

In response to Mayor Pam Iorio's recent decision to partially restore the park as part of the new Tampa Museum of Art project, the group wants to ensure the site preserves the vision of its renowned landscape architect, Dan Kiley.

In the 1980s, Kiley designed the public garden to complement the design of architect Harry Wolf's adjacent 33-story circular office tower and cubic pavilion - the future home of the art museum. Since then, the park has fallen into disrepair and been blamed for leaks in the parking garage underneath.

Friends of Kiley Gardens argue the issue stems from poor contracting and construction of the garden. Over the years, poor maintenance of the park has worsened the situation.

Given the garden's location between the existing museum on Ashley and the planned one, members believe it should reflect art. They oppose any plan that would remove all the trees on the site and create an open grass area.

"They (the city of Tampa) have a different mentality for maintenance: They do ballfields," not intricately detailed gardens, said Sue Thompson, a Sarasota resident and landscape architect.

The group's Web site, www.kileygardens.org includes letters of support from noted architectural firms and schools. The letters express concern, praise and hope concerning the group's efforts. The group has proposed better waterproofing of the garage and the use of lighter stone materials to prevent the gardens from further deterioration.

The group is compiling a list of possible solutions to present to the Tampa Museum of Art and the city.

"This is one of the few places where I can come and say that a world-renowned designer designed this for our town," Thompson said.

- Jonathan Milton can be reached at 226-3374 or at milton@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 2, 2006, 13:56:08]