The Tampa Bay Estuary Program is producing a documentary film highlighting the beauty of Tampa Bay, its colorful history, and challenges to its continued recovery.

“Tampa Bay: Living Legacy” will chronicle Tampa Bay’s transformation from a relatively unspoiled paradise in the 1950s, to a waterway battered by pollution in the 1970s, to its amazing rebirth and recovery beginning some 25 years ago and continuing today.

The 60-minute film features interviews with scientists, elected officials and citizens, including well-known Floridians such as former Governor of Florida Bob Martinez, the Mayors of both Tampa and St. Petersburg, and former State Education Commissioner Betty Castor. Compelling archival images will help tell the bay’s story, along with extensive new footage showcasing the extraordinary beauty of the bay’s habitats and inhabitants.

The film will be narrated by Patrick Wilson, a Broadway star who has performed in “Phantom of the Opera,” “Oklahoma” and “The Full Monty,” as well as the HBO film “Angels in America.” Patrick grew up in St. Petersburg, where his father, John, is a longtime local news anchor.

The film is intended for broadcast on regional PBS stations in 2006.

Approximately one-third of the bay area’s residents moved here in the past decade. Two-thirds arrived within the last 25 years. Thus, the overwhelming majority of the residents of the three counties surrounding Tampa Bay – Hillsborough, Manatee and Pinellas – have little awareness of the immense changes that have occurred in the bay in their lifetimes. “Tampa Bay: Living Legacy” will issue a call to action to maintain the ongoing progress in bay restoration, by challenging residents to make lifestyle changes that benefit the bay and raising awareness of public policy choices that could impact the bay.

Critical funding to support film production costs is being provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Pinellas County Environmental Fund.