The Bradenton Riverwalk continues to draw accolades from around the Bay area.
The Riverwalk nabbed a first-place finish for the City of Bradenton and the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority in the category of Cultural, Sports & Recreation March 25 during the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council’s 21st Annual Future of the Region Awards ceremony in St. Petersburg.
“This is a wonderful honor for the Riverwalk project to be named the best in Tampa Bay," Mayor Wayne Poston said. "We knew Bradenton and Manatee County residents loved it but we are overwhelmed to win a first place in the region. Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Executive Director Dave Gustafson and his board are to be congratulated on a fabulous job.”
The City, DDA and Realize Bradenton participated in the design (with public input) and ongoing management of the award-winning park.
Johnette Isham, realize Bradenton's Executive Director, said the award "affirms that this community thinks big and we all work together."
The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC), which includes more than 40 jurisdictions from Manatee, Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, hosts the annual ceremony to honor notable achievements in resource planning and management in the Bay area.
Awards were given in these categories: Community Service, Cultural/Sports/Recreation, Development/Infrastructure, Natural Resources/Environment, Going Green! and Public Education. Entries were considered based on the following criteria: Regional quality of life benefit, benefit to the environment, innovation, cost effectiveness, capacity for continuing impact and regional benefit.
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The judging committee noted the Riverwalk’s
“sustainable design, diverse amenities to encourage wellness, recreation, entertainment and enjoyment of the river.”
The downtown Bradenton bus transfer station
was among the other projects in Manatee County that received honorable mention.
