Plant City leaders celebrated the opening of the community’s new Railroad Viewing Platform and Tower with a private reception program Dec. 14, at the platform.
City Commissioner Mike Sparkman hosted the event, which recognized the sponsors, contractors, vendors, committee members and key supporters who helped fund and build the platform.
The site will include plaques honoring the major contributors, as well as Benito “Benny” Lubrano Jr., of Lubrano Designs Inc., who drew up the original plans for the project.
Major contributors include Rick and Di Lott and family ($50,000); CSX Transportation ($35,000); Mike and Diane Sparkman and family ($25,000); Bill and Diane Morrow and family ($25,000); Unity in the Community ($10,000); Florida Strawberry Festival ($10,000); Jarrett-Scott Ford ($5,000); Stingray Chevrolet ($5,000); Plant City Lions Club ($5,000); Plant City Noon Rotary Club ($5,000); Plant City Daybreak Rotary Club ($2,000); CF Industries ($2,000); Verner Foundation ($2,000); H.B. Plant Historical Society ($1,000); In Memory of Edward Hill ($1,000); Railroad Industrial Federal Credit Union ($1,000); Pat and Darcy Stottlemyer ($1,000); George and Cassandra Banning ($1,000); Chief Bill McDaniel ($1,000); Eddie and Marlena Richter ($1,000); and Robert W. and Felice Willaford ($1,000).
Contributing contractors and vendors include RasDaniel Inc.; A.T. Wadi and Jonathan Davis; Dixon Drafting and Design (Mike Dixon); EGI Inc. (William H. Roberts); Wetherington Tractor Service Inc.; Kimball Wetherington; Sunbelt Equipment Rental; Gary Pike; Plant City Garden Club; and Boone’s Nursery.
Coastertrains Production produced a video of the opening, which can be seen below. Scroll down for additional photos, courtesy of Assistant City Manager of Public Safety Bill McDaniel.