Safety Harbor plans Mullet Creek restoration projects

Tucked away in a pocket of Old Florida, just a short stroll from downtown, Mullet Creek crawls unnoticed toward Tampa Bay.

From a distance, it appears pristine. A closer look reveals something else.

Just west of the Philippe Parkway bridge, discarded slabs of concrete erupt from the dirt beneath the trees along the creek's north bank. There's an empty beer can here, some metal piping there, and other garbage lying on the ground. Brazilian pepper, an invasive species, is choking out native plants along the creek's banks.

Here, after a little spring cleaning, the city is planning to reawaken the creek's rustic charm with one of two new parks that focus on natural ambience. ...