The Kitchen

When my ancestors, the Kushmer’s and Adams’ migrated to Florida, they settled on the Eastern Shore of Tampa Bay. The settlers of the time called this area the “Kitchen” because of its very productive Estuary. 

Most, if not all of the residents survived on fish and shell fish from this area. And to hear from the family, life was good, if you could get past the heat and mosquitoes of the summer. 

Over time, others began to hear about the Kitchen and soon, not only was South Hillsborough being populated by soon-to-be tomato and tropical fish farmers but in the 20’s, the carnival came to town. 

The Kitchen is an area beginning at the Alafia River and running South to today’s TECO Power Plant. It remained one of the most productive estuaries on the West Coast of Florida until the 60’s when progress came to town. 

In the 60’s a landfill fill was built extending one-mile into Tampa Bay cutting the Kitchen in half and destroying oyster beds and fish habitat. But as with many other things man does, nature rebounded (a bit). I still would not eat an oyster out of Tampa Bay but it is getting better. 

In 1995, the Point (what the locals called it) was purchased with funding from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) and Hillsborough County through its Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection program and renamed Schultz Preserve.

The Plan (please see link for details) in summary would have SWFMD partnering with Hillsborough County (County) for restoration. 

https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/sites/default/files/medias/documents/FredandIdahSchultzPreserve.pdf

After the purchase, SWFWMD began an over $2 million dollar restoration of habitat by removing much of the landfill, they even brought back a sandbar from many years before. Their plan included having the County build a limited access road from a parking lot at the end of Adamsville Road down to a newly created parking area near the water. This would allow for non-motorized boats to be launched.