Funding Sought to Restore Dan Kiley Masterwork at NationsBank Plaza

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In 2006 the Kiley Garden (formerly NationsBank Plaza) was featured on Landslide, The Cultural Landscape Foundation's annual list of at-risk and threatened landscapes, and the future of the site was very much in doubt. Now, the 2-level garage structure that sits beneath the garden has undergone a $4.3 million renovation and the Tampa City Council is seeking funds to complete restoration of the park.

The park was built in 1988 in conjunction with the construction of a thirty-three story tower and two six-story bank pavilions designed by architect Harry Wolf. Kiley’s design was based on the mathematical series of numbers called the Fibonacci sequence and the site is considered one of Kiley’s masterworks. The space fell into neglect in the late 1990s, which was furthered by problems with the concrete substructure and leakage from surface-level planters into the garage below. Landscape architect Ron Sill of the firm RS&H produced plans for the restoration of the site, which is nearly complete. An estimated $500,000 in funding is needed to complete the project, along with funds for continued maintenance. Donations would be used to restore the park’s fountains and plant Cabbage Palms and dwarf Crepe Myrtles – Kiley’s original design included more than 600 - in planters re-engineered to prevent the recurrence of earlier problems encountered at the site. Supporters of the park have expressed interest in designating the site a local historic landmark.

For more information or to find out how to help, please contact the Friends of Kiley Garden at info.kileygarden@gmail.com.