Video: City Invites Public To View Imagine Clearwater Designs

CLEARWATER, FL — The City of Clearwater is invited the community to attend one or all of a series of public information sessions to see the Imagine Clearwater waterfront redevelopment master plan designs, which are 30 percent complete, and to share feedback.

Public information sessions will be held:

• Dec. 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Countryside Mall, 27001 U.S. 19 N., Clearwater.
• Dec. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. at North Greenwood Recreation Center, 900 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Clearwater.

"We are excited to show the public the 30 percent drawings," said Michael Delk, Clearwater's assistant city manager. "Things like the green, the playground area, splash pad and boardwalk will make this a signature park for the entire community."

The "30-60-90" design development process is common across many design industries. At each stage of the design process, the plan sets become more complex and technical.

At 30 percent design completion, the public can expect to see a refined project schedule and scope and finalized design criteria. Spatial requirements for design elements are determined (Will all these things fit?), but very few specific dimensions are determined. Textures, colors and materials are only loosely determined and may change.

Feedback at the 30 percent phase can be incorporated into the next phase of design plans.

Along with the public information sessions, city staff will share the 30 percent designs and the public's feedback at a Dec. 16 session with the Clearwater City Council. The public will have an opportunity to see and provide feedback on the 60 percent and 90 percent design completion in 2020.

Residents can also provide feedback online.

Imagine Clearwater is an ambitious plan designed to revitalize Clearwater's waterfront by renovating existing facilities and finding recreational uses for unused property.

The project is estimated to cost $62 million to be partly offset by the ale of the former Harborview convention center property and the old City Hall.

In the planning for nearly a decade, Imagine Clearwater envisions the waterfront to be anchored by a new open space bridging the waterfront with downtown Clearwater. This includes revitalizing and enhancing Coachman Park to accommodate a more activities, both passive and active like the concerts and festivals the park frequently hosts.

Elements of Imagine Clearwater include:

• The Civic Gateway: A grand entry gateway at the site of the former Harborview Center will lead visitors down Cleveland Street to the waterfront.
• The Green: A new 4,000-seat amphitheater will be added to The Green to enhance concert experiences.
• Coachman Garden: Coachman Garden, located steps from the Clearwater Main Library, 100 N. Osceola Ave., will get a new playground, with play equipment designed in collaboration with local artists.
• The Estuary: The Estuary will provide lush respite for visitors in search of a quiet waterfront experience a short walk from downtown.
• The Bluff Walk: The half-mile Bluff Walk will be an active linear promenade that emphasizes Clearwater's unique topography and waterfront views.

Related stories:

• Clearwater Residents Invited to 'Imagine' Downtown Waterfront's Future
• Clearwater Officials Want To Tap Into Residents' Imaginations