Pollinator garden and interactive mural offer a welcoming outdoor experience for visitors of all ages
Ready to get outside this summer? Visit Hillsborough County's Branchton Park to explore a colorful new pollinator garden and interactive sensory sidewalk mural designed to inspire connection, creativity, and outdoor play.
The new community space was created by 200 Muslim Women Who Care (200 MWWC), a philanthropic organization dedicated to making a positive impact throughout the Tampa Bay area with charitable giving, volunteerism, and education.
Designed for visitors of all ages and abilities, the pollinator garden and sensory sidewalk offer a welcoming place for families, friends, and neighbors to enjoy nature together.
What is a sensory sidewalk and pollinator garden?
A sensory sidewalk is an interactive mural that encourages movement, creativity, and engagement through play. By following the colorful designs, visitors can practice balance and coordination, spark curiosity, and experience the outdoors in a fun and meaningful way. Spaces like these help promote creativity, mindfulness, and accessibility while encouraging active outdoor recreation.
The adjacent pollinator garden is a space that is intentionally planted with native flowers and other plants that provide food and habitat for butterflies, bees, and other important pollinators. Plants featured in the garden include:
- Butterfly milkweed
- Black-eyed Susan
- Tropical sage
- Scorpion tail
Community and the arts
The sensory sidewalk was funded in part through a Community Arts Impact Grant from the Arts Council of Hillsborough County awarded to 200 MWWC. The mural was designed and created by artist Ameena Khan of Colorscape Murals, who received a Professional Development for Artists Grant from the Arts Council that helped her purchase equipment used to complete the project.
The mural was completed in phases, beginning with Khan's original design and transfer of the artwork onto the sidewalk. Community volunteers of all ages then helped bring the mural to life by filling in the design with colorful paint, transforming the project into a collaborative effort that brought neighbors together to create something meaningful for the community.
To enjoy the sensory sidewalk and pollinator garden, visit Branchton Park at 15504 Morris Bridge Rd., Thonotosassa, FL 33592. The park is open every day from sunrise to sunset and also features a playground, splash pad, pickleball courts, and much more.
The Arts Council of Hillsborough County provides a unified voice for cultural organizations and activities throughout Tampa Bay. Through grants, marketing initiatives, research, and advocacy, the Arts Council helps the region's cultural community thrive. To learn more, visit HCFL.gov/ArtsCouncil.