Future Plans/Looking Ahead

The DDA’s strategic plan focuses heavily on improving the quality of life for residents, workers, and visitors. This can be seen in the expansion of funds invested in this area of the DDA’s budget due to the increase of people moving into downtown. The quality of programming improves the experience of living in the heart of the city.

The Next Big Thing

A community-wide project called Trojan Rocking Horses was chosen from a search that generated more than 20 international submissions aimed at engaging the West Palm Beach community, downtown residents, and visitors. The eight life-sized rocking horses will be custom-designed by local children then fabricated locally, under the guidance of world-renowned Finnish artist and architect Marco Casagrande. They will journey through various communities in West Palm Beach collecting messages from West Palm Beach citizens on ideas and visions for the future of Downtown West Palm Beach.

Let’s Vibe DowntownWPB

Connecting with residents in community engagement programming that not only helps them meet their neighbors but also informs them of who we are, what we do, and how we can make our community better. Participation includes creating a TinyDoorWPB to be placed around DowntownWPB, a sidewalk audit, and “Cafecito” on wheels. Our vision is to foster more local connections between residents, merchants, and the DDA.

S.P.E.A.K.

Facilitating an open call for the community to participate in an open mic activation. The recurring placemaking program strives to provide a space to celebrate multicultural experiences through a song, poem, or just a story that is told by word of mouth.

Que Bacano

Activating the City Hall Courtyard at the corner of Clematis and Dixie with a cultural program based on Salsa dance classes and a domino tournament. In Colombia, “Qué Bacano!” means “How Cool!” The five-month Domino Tournament is slated for one team to win a grand prize.

Fern Street Chess Park

Enhancing Fern Street Park by adding chess tables. This will create a fun, active, and special use. It will also add opportunities for sociability by creating a welcoming, neighborly, and friendly environment for all. Chess parks promote safe and clean spaces that are attractive and help connect neighbors to one another.

Gehl App and Residential Volunteer Program

Partnering with Gehl Group for a data collection project to help evaluate our projects and programs. With the assistance of volunteers Downtown West Palm Beach's public spaces will be measured electronically by counting pedestrians and bikes, as well as analyze how spaces are used by residents and visitors. Participating volunteers will receive community hours for their service.