About the garden
The Parking Community Garden (PCG) was created and is administered by the City of Tampa Parking Division — unlocking the potential of underutilized space at its downtown facilities with an open public garden meant to give residents access to gardening space and promote healthy eating.
Where
101 S Morgan St, Tampa, FL 33602 — garden entrance at the corner of Morgan and Whiting Streets. Recommended parking is the Ft. Brook Parking Garage (107 N Franklin St — entrances on Whiting St, S Florida Ave, and S Franklin St); on-street spaces are also available. By streetcar: get off at the Downtown Tampa stop and walk north on Franklin St to Whiting St. Several HART lines stop nearby (Florida Ave @ Whiting St: 5, 19, 24, 25, 360; Marion St N + Whiting St E: 100; Pierce St + Whiting St: 300; Whiting St @ Tampa St: 1, 30).
What's in it
- 51 garden plots, each 4′ × 2′ — eight square feet of growing space per plot
- Plot allocation: plots 1–9 ADA-accessible (reserved for accommodation requests; leftovers go to the general public) · plots 10–41 for Tampa residents 18+ · plots 42–49 for City of Tampa employees · plots 50–51 pollinator plots managed by the City
- Gazebo + seating, greenhouses, tool shed with shared tools (free — put them back in their spot)
- Rainwater collection tanks + spigot, community watering cans
How participation works
- Free. No membership fee.
- Apply during the annual ~2-week window (paper or online); selection by random lottery. Specific plots can't be requested or reserved — you get what your lottery number draws.
- Eligibility: 18+, living within Tampa city limits (a "Tampa" mailing address isn't enough — check the City boundary map) or a current City employee, in good standing with the Site Rules, and you sign the conditions form.
- Garden open 7 days/week, dawn to dusk; guests allowed with a signed waiver and stay your responsibility.
- Tend your plot at least once per week — that's the bar for keeping it. At season's end you choose: keep your plot, re-enter the lottery for a new one, or vacate.
Why it exists
The Parking Division's stated goals: more time outdoors, healthy eating through fresh organic food, an inclusive community around a common interest, activating underused City property, and hands-on education in water reclamation, recycling, propagating crops, and composting.