The City of Tampa partnered with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful and a dozen local artists to create works of art on storm drain concrete tops at Robles Park.
The artists’ designs focus on the “Only Rain Down the Drain” educational campaign educating Tampa 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, and it is a threat in Central Florida. 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 local neighborhoods and waterways are closely connected and need to be protected. They will also help to further beautify Robles Park, according to the City of Tampa.
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 is 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.
