Flower Pots Beautify Tarpon Avenue

Along the streets of the historic downtown district of Tarpon Avenue, perfectly manicured flower pots can be seen lining the sidewalks.

The trend of landscaping in Tarpon Springs began a little more than a year ago when merchants agreed that the pots were a good idea. An agreement was made so that all business owners were responsible for was an empty pot.

If an empty pot was left in front of a store, it was a signal for Tarpon Springs city employees David Witkowski and Chris Conrad to take the pots and fill them. The duo would then return them to the businesses that they came from.

Before long, the city got involved and has backed the idea ever since. With the effort comes trimming, cutting and watering from city employees. Sometimes the plants are even removed from the block completely to repot and clean up.

That happened about a month ago when officials were planning for the Republican National Convention. The plants and flowers were returned just in time for visitors.

David Witkowski’s daughter, Dana, works at a Court of Two Sisters and says that the pots have become a beloved addition to the area.

“All of the businesses love them,” said Witkowski. “It’s nice to have that little pop of ‘we care.’ "

And since there was no formal name for the pots, Witkowski has dubbed them the "famed Tarpon Ave. flower pots."