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Job cultivates landscaper's love of outdoors

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By KENNETH KNIGHT

kknight@tampatrib.com

Published: October 28, 2009

James Wright III, 29, likes the mean streets of his hometown exactly where they are, all the way across the country on California's coast.

The Hawthorne, Calif., native credits his parents, James Jr. and Alice, for having the insight 20 years ago to relocate the family from Los Angeles to suburban Pebble Creek.

"Nothing bad happened," Wright said. A concern that danger was omnipresent was enough to convince Wright's parents that Tampa was the best place to raise him and his sister.

"Back in those days, there was nothing out here," Wright said, referring to New Tampa. "To see the community grow has been amazing."

After graduated from Wharton High in 1999, Wright decided to stay close to home to start a career and family.

A lover of the outdoors, he took a landscaping job with the Tampa Palms Community Development District, the taxing authority for Tampa Palms Areas 1 and 2.

The job offered him a chance to get his hands dirty, planting and growing beautiful flowers and trees, and transforming plain village entryways into manicured, picturesque gardens.

Wright was hooked. He has spent the better part of nine years working at the Tampa Palms CDD. He left for a short time more than six years ago to work with a private landscaper.

Wright, the father of sons Cameron, 6, and Julian, 2 months, is a supervisor at One Source Landscape and Golf Services, which is under contract to maintain properties controlled by community development districts in Tampa Palms Areas 1, 2 and 3. He manages 21 employees.

One Source has workers in Tampa Palms five days a week mowing, trimming, picking up litter and maintaining more than 160 acres of common areas, covering parks, streets, sidewalks and medians along the major thoroughfares.

How did you get involved in landscaping?

Before One Source I worked for the in-house landscaping company, Tampa Palms Community Development District. One Source came in and took over the landscaping from the Tampa Palms CDD. When One Source got the contract, I didn't start working with them the first year. When we found out we were losing our jobs, some (workers) didn't feel like jumping onboard.

Why did you come back?

I had to have a job that was steady. I worked my way from the bottom to the top. I started on the edge-and-blow crew and worked my way up.

. What's the most interesting thing about your job?

Working outside. Some people like to work in offices and cubicles. I like being outside. It's already a beautiful area, but I enjoy enhancing and doing new landscaping.

In Amberly Park, where we are doing improvements, we will be installing new irrigation, doing new plant designs and putting in new plants to enhance the park.

I enjoy seeing parents and kids coming into the park and enjoying how good the property looks.

How long did it take you to become a supervisor?

Just under three years. It's funny how it happened. My manager at One Source at the time was awesome. When he decided to move on, I was the crew leader. When he left, he left me in charge.

Being in charge of keeping Tampa Palms' common areas looking immaculate, do you get much feedback from residents?

If there is a complaint or compliment, it is usually a phone call to Maggie (Wilson, a consultant to the Tampa Palms Community Development District) or my manager.

I will go out and assess the problem, get it done myself or take a crew of however many it takes to get the job done.

How is work in each area scheduled?

We have specific, detailed crews in Areas 1 and 2. They will work specific zones each day.

Area 1 is from Tampa Palms Boulevard (East) and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard to the Tremont Enclave. Area 2 is from Bruce B. Downs and Tampa Palms Boulevard (West) to Wellington. Area 3 is from Commerce Palms Drive and Bruce B. Downs to the Enclave on Tampa Palms Boulevard.

How can residents contact One Source?

They should call (813) 886-9600 or the district office.

Reporter Kenneth Knight can be reached at (813) 259-7413.

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