Applications have CLOSED. Thank you to everyone that applied. All applicants will be notified of their application status in the coming weeks.
Garden Establishment
The Parking Community Garden (PCG) was created, and is administered, by the City of Tampa Parking Division. The PCG was created with the following goals in mind:
- Encourage an increase in the amount of time spent outdoors by City of Tampa residents and staff.
- Foster healthy eating habits through the cultivation of fresh organic foods.
- Foster a community of inclusion through engagement in a common interest.
- Activate underutilized space on City property for a community benefit.
- Provide educational opportunities for participants focusing on water reclamation, recycling, propagating and cultivating crops, and composting.
About the Garden
- The PCG is located on the east side of Whiting Garage, and is accessible after a completed application has been submitted, selected, and approved.
- The PCG features:
- 51 Raised Garden Beds (2'x2'x4')
- 2 Benches
- Gazebo and Seating
- Greenhouses
- Tool Shed
- 2 Rainwater Collection Barrels
- Compost Bin
- A Collection of Standard Gardening Tools
- 9 plots are designated for prioritization of use by individuals requiring ADA accommodations.
- 32 plots are designated for the use of City of Tampa residents.
- 8 plots are designated for the prioritization of use by individuals that are current City of Tampa employees.
- 2 plots are reserved for PCG staff to be cultivated as pollinator gardens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Participants in the Parking Community Garden must meet the following two criteria:
- Be at least 18 years of age or older
- Live within the City of Tampa city limits OR Be a current City of Tampa Employee
*Note: just because your address says "TAMPA" DOES NOT mean that you live within the city limits. Please check your address using the Tampa Boundary Map to confirm if your residence is within the city limits.
If you are applying as a City of Tampa Resident, you will need the following:
- Proof of Residency
- Driver's License, Rental/Lease Agreement, Mortgage Statement, Voter Registration Card, Vehicle Registration, or Current Utility Bill
- These are the only documents that will be accepted.
- Proof of Date of Birth
- Driver's License, Birth Certificate, Passport
- These are the only documents that will be accepted.
- Signed Parking Community Garden Bylaws and Site Rules
If you are applying as a City of Tampa Employee, you will need the following:
- Proof of Employment
- Your City of Tampa Employee ID badge.
- Proof of Date of Birth
- Driver's License, Birth Certificate, Passport
- These are the only documents that will be accepted.
- Signed Parking Community Garden Bylaws and Site Rules
There is NO membership fee for participation.
The Parking Community Garden plots are raised container beds that measure 2' in height, 4' in length, and 2' in width.
Yes, Primary Gardeners that have been awarded plots may bring friends and family into the garden with them. Any individuals entering the garden MUST first sign and submit a participation waiver.
These forms must be picked up and submitted at the Parking Offices on the 3rd Floor of Ft. Brooke Garage (Directly above the YMCA and Streetcar Station) during normal business hours Monday-Friday.
All guest are the sole responsibility of the Primary Gardener (the individual awarded garden plot(s)) and must not touch, disturb, or harvest from any plot other than the Primary Garden's assigned location. Any Primary Gardener's guests found to have interacted with other plots, or not followed the bylaws and site rules of the Parking Community Garden shall be subject to termination from garden participation.
The Parking Community Garden is accessible 7 days per week from dawn to dusk.
Awarded participants will be given access to the lock on the front gate. This lock is to remain secured at all times when the garden is empty. Failure to re-secure the lock after leaving the garden shall result in termination from participation.
Individuals wishing to apply for the Parking Community Garden via paper application may do so during the open application window. Paper applications will be available for pick up in the Parking Office on the 3rd Floor of Ft. Brooke Garage, directly above the YMCA and Streetcar Station during normal business hours (Monday-Friday 8am-5pm). Paper applications will need to be submitted to this same location prior to the closing of the application window.
How Can I Participate?
Applications for the Parking Community Garden will open at 8am on Wednesday October 22nd and will close at 5pm on Wednesday November 5th. Make sure you are familiar with the Parking Community Garden (PCG) information packet posted to this page below.
To qualify for participation in the Parking Community Garden, you need to meet the following criteria:
- Be at least 18 years old or older
- Be a City of Tampa Resident that lives within the defined city limits of Tampa OR Be a Current City of Tampa employee
When applications open, you will need to print, read, and sign a copy of the Parking Community Garden Bylaws and Site Rules. Both will be accessible via link provided in the section below.
If applying as a City of Tampa Resident, you will need:
- Proof of Residency
- Drivers License, Rental/Lease Agreement, Mortgage Statement, Voter Registration Card, Vehicle Registration, or Current Utility Bill
- These are the only documents that will be accepted for this application.
- Proof of Date of Birth
- Drivers License, Birth Certificate, Passport
- These are the only documents that will be accepted for this application.
- A signed copy of the Parking Community Garden Bylaws and Site Rules
If applying as a City of Tampa Employee, you will need:
- Proof of Residency
- Drivers License, Rental/Lease Agreement, Mortgage Statement, Voter Registration Card, Vehicle Registration, or Current Utility Bill
- These are the only documents that will be accepted for this application.
- Proof of Date of Birth
- Drivers License, Birth Certificate, Passport
- These are the only documents that will be accepted for this application.
- A copy of your City of Tampa Employee Badge.
- A signed copy of the Parking Community Garden Bylaws and Site Rules.
Only one application may be submitted per person. The submittal of multiple applications shall result in denial of all applications for that applicant.
- Proof of Residency
When applications open you will then need to fill out the online form that is linked below and upload all of the documents indicated for the type of application you are submitting as identified above.
Alternatively, you may fill out a paper version of the application at the Parking Offices on the 3rd floor of Ft. Brooke Garage, directly above the YMCA and Streetcar station once the application window opens.
The application window will be open for a period of two (2) weeks. Afterword, Parking Community Garden participants will be selected, via random lottery, from the pool of applicants to fill the available Parking Community Garden plots.
Interested in Participating in the PCG? ¶
PCG Info Packet
Review the City of Tampa Parking Community Garden Information Packet for key information on how the garden is run, the application and selection process, a guide to crop selection and planting, and more.
PCG Bylaws and Site Rules
Review the City of Tampa Parking Community Garden Bylaws and Site Rules for key information on garden rules, regulations, management, and participant expectations.
PCG Application
Click here to fill out the online Parking Community Garden Application. Be sure you have read and agree to all materials in the Information Packet and Bylaws and Site Rules prior to filling out an application.
*Applications are CLOSED.
All applicants will be notified of their application status in the coming weeks.
Parking Community Garden Participation Waiver
The Participation Waiver is for any Secondary Gardeners the Primary Gardener (Gardener awarded a plot in the Parking Community Garden) is wanting to bring into the Parking Community Garden. Any Primary Gardener found allowing any individual into the Parking Community Garden without first completing and submitting this Participation Waiver shall be subject to termination from participation in the Parking Community Garden.
