Village-downtown connectivity coming
A pedestrian-friendly route from downtown Bradenton and Village of the Arts has been a major goal in the city’s many initiatives to boost economic revitalization and visitor appeal. A part of that connectivity is now coming to fruition as a safety project by the Florida Department of Transportation.
The design stage is under way, and construction could start late next year. FDOT plans to install a median, turn lanes and crosswalks along Eighth Avenue West between Ninth Street West and 14th Street West. Those two north-south roads are the key routes into the Village. Crosswalks at 13th Street West and Old Main Street are another goal.
Even before Realize Bradenton worked with the arts neighborhood on the Village of the Arts Tapestry Plan, connectivity stood out as a vital step toward promoting the small community as a tourist destination. The city has already undertaken lighting, flooding and other projects in the village, improving its look and safety.
Realize Bradenton has a much bigger project on the horizon — connecting the city’s public art ventures into a three-mile cultural corridor from Riverwalk to Village of the Arts. This long-awaited Art Walk Bradenton enterprise plans to commission several new pieces of public art to join about 33 current creations to form a walkable art tour between Riverwalk all the way south to McKechnie Field.
Art Walk Bradenton will also address another part of the tapestry plan by establishing three artistic intersection gatewyas into the village from 14th Street West.
Artists awarded commissions will create art focusing on Bradenton’s heritage. Two large wall murals and six big panels are planned.
This forward momentum on a significant — and signature — objective lends excitement to the growing prospects for Bradenton to expand its cultural and heritage tourism. Kudos to Realize Bradenton and the Downtown Development Authority for leading this major venture.
Raising museum education
Speaking of culture, the South Florida Museum will soon debut an exciting feature that will vastly broaden educational opportunties. Naturally, technology stands in the center.
Jeff Rogers, the museum’s director of education, came up with the Pathways concept more five years ago, and advances in electronics now allow its development. Remember those small placards plastered mounted in front of exhibits with some slices of information? So old school.
Software with an interactive program will expand the entire educational experience of the museum’s exhibits. The connections between every object in the museum will be explained in historic and scientific terms.
Eventually, all visitors armed with a tablet device will be able to select which objects they wish to explore via a Bluetooth connection. Initially, this will only be available to students. Different versions of the storytelling will be created for different age groups.
Visitors can move through the museum by following the connections from one object to another and learning different stories on each exhibit.
Very cool stuff. The rewards are clear — a deeper knowledge and appreciation for the objects, and the museum. Cheers to Rogers.
Quote of the week
“Unfortunately, for seven and a half years this animal we call president — because he’s an animal, OK — seven and a half years, has surgically and with thought and very smart, intelligent manner, destroyed this country and dismantled the military under not one, not two, but three secretary of defenses.” — Carlos Beruff, Republican Senate candidate and Manatee County resident.
This story was originally published May 20, 2016 at 3:27 PM with the headline "Village-downtown connectivity coming."