County Median Update to Tierra Verde Residents

This letter is being mailed out to all Tierra Verde Residents the week of August 25, 2025.

Dear Tierra Verde Residents,

I’d like to provide an update on the maintenance of the county-owned medians in your community. This correspondence does not pertain to the state-owned Bayway.

As of July 15, 2025, the Tierra Verde Community Association (TVCA) ended its longtime maintenance of the medians located within the Monte Cristo, Entrada, East Shore, and West Shore neighborhoods in Tierra Verde. This marks a significant change, as TVCA has voluntarily maintained the medians for many years. Historically, the TVCA has provided landscaping maintenance in the area, as residents desired a higher level of service than the standard maintenance provided by the County. Moving forward, Pinellas County will maintain these medians to the standard countywide service level for all unincorporated areas, which is mowing approximately 14 times per year. The County has updated the mowing contract to include these medians, and mowing will begin the week of August 25th.

Please note: the County’s standard maintenance does not include irrigation, decorative landscaping, or routine enhancements. Without irrigation, the appearance of the medians will likely decline over time. We understand the community’s interest in maintaining enhanced public spaces and are committed to working with residents on potential solutions.

In the short term, we are in discussions with a newly created local nonprofit interested in taking on some of the responsibilities previously handled by TVCA in select areas. If these discussions are successful, the nonprofit will be encouraged to apply for a $20,000 MSTU (Municipal Services Taxing Unit) grant from the County to fund irrigation for one year. This temporary funding would allow us time to collaborate on a long-term, sustainable plan—one that will require both financial support and community volunteers. Without a long-term solution, the medians will transition to the County standard maintenance level, which consists of mowing only. Their appearance will likely reflect that of other medians throughout unincorporated Pinellas County.

During my office hours, several residents have expressed interest to me in forming volunteer groups. If you are interested in getting involved or have questions, please contact or visit me during my community office hours—Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. My contact information is listed at the bottom right of this letter.

While we have appreciated TVCA’s service over the years, we recognize they no longer wish to continue providing these services to their homeowners. Therefore, our goal is to find a path forward that meets community expectations and aligns with County resources. We appreciate your patience and continued engagement as we work through this transition.

Additionally, we are preparing a budget presentation, to provide an overview of the County Budget and how your tax dollars are spent. The presentation is planned for this fall.

Sincerely,

Audrey Ables

Tierra Verde Community Coordinator

Phone (727) 543-6429
audreyables@pinellas.gov