Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Donor update: Tutchton reports park endowment and $11,000 beautification plan for Tutchton Park
Summary
Longtime donor Tom Tutchton told the Dade City Commission the renovated Tutchton Park is doing well, reported roughly $25,000 remaining in the park development fund and said an operating endowment of about $375,000 will yield an annual distribution of roughly $16,000 for park upkeep.
Tom Tutchton, the donor who led fundraising for renovations at the downtown green space named for his grandmother, gave the commission an update on Tutchton Park and thanked city staff and volunteers for maintenance and care.
Tutchton told commissioners he first proposed funding a renovation three years earlier and that the park reopened with a ribbon cutting last April. He said the city's capital role focused on parking and stormwater improvements along South View Avenue and Fifth Street and that the project required a coordinated effort between private donors and city staff.
Tutchton said the park’s beautification committee recently recommended spending an additional $11,000 from the park development fund for spring plantings ahead of an early-April Monarch Butterfly Festival. He said about $25,000 remains in that development fund for future plantings and trees, and he noted Tampa Electric contributed $50,000 when the fund was created.
On operating support, Tutchton said he worked with the Community Foundation in Tampa Bay to create an endowment to help fund annual maintenance. Thanks to an additional foundation gift and investment performance, he said, the operating endowment now totals approximately $375,000 and will generate a distribution to the city of roughly $16,000 this spring to support park care.
Tutchton thanked public-works staff, local volunteers and committee members — including Commissioner Shive, Julie Hale and Joan Hepscher — and emphasized that the park renovation has been successful and is well used.
Tutchton concluded by saying his role is to report on the park’s condition and thanked commissioners for their support.
