City Adds New Bike Lanes Along North Palafox Street
Posted: Aug 6, 2019 3:55 PMUpdated: Aug 6, 2019 3:57 PM
The City of Pensacola is on a mission to make Pensacola a more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly city, and recently changed a four-lane section downtown along Palafox Street between Cervantes and Wright into a two-lane, multi-modal roadway. The existing outside lanes were converted into bike lanes, and approximately 40 new parking spaces were added along North Palafox Street. The section of Palafox between Wright and Garden streets is now a “share-road” that allows both motorists and bicyclists to share the travel lane. The bike lanes were added through the North Palafox Road Diet Project, designed to transform part of North Palafox Street into a multi-modal, shared roadway for vehicles and bicyclists. Mayor Grover Robinson is focused on creating safer connections between Pensacola neighborhoods and destinations, so that all forms of traffic can use the roadways safely. "It's a great feeling to see these bike lanes completed and know we're providing a safer way for bicyclists to travel downtown," Mayor Robinson said. "This is just the beginning of our goal to create a more bikeable, walkable city and better connect our community. I'm looking forward to completing additional projects throughout the city as we work to implement a complete streets concept that encompasses all modes of transportation."The new bike lanes show how the City is able to reinvent local roadways to move more people, more safely and efficiently, and the changes on Palafox provide downtown visitors more options to get around "Florida's Greatest Place." SOURCE: CITY OF PENSACOLANew Parking Rates Coming to Tarragona St. Lot
Posted: Jul 26, 2019 3:20 PMUpdated: Jul 29, 2019 5:56 PM
Through an agreement between the Downtown Improvement Board and UWF Historic Trust, new parking rates will go into effect in the Tarragona parking lot on Monday, July 29:24hr paid parking Monday-Saturday: Monday-Saturday, 24hr – $1 per hour Friday + Saturday, 5pm-12am – $3.50 per hour Sunday, all day – FREECall For Performers For "Fire and Rain"!
Posted: Jul 24, 2019 3:55 PMUpdated: Sep 5, 2019 11:02 PM
This year, an artistic collaboration between Foo Foo Fest, Artel Gallery and Friends of Downtown will launch a unique public art project, “Fire and Rain,” that takes place from Oct. 31 to Nov. 11. Organizers are inviting performers and performance groups to be part of the celebration. The “Fire and Rain” sculpture, hand-crafted of wire and holographic strands of mylar, will stretch some 9,500 ft., and float high in the air above Intendencia Street, winding down and skipping across Palafox and ending at Artel Gallery, on the corner of Palafox and Government Streets. The project is funded by a generous Foo Foo Fest grant and will stay up during the festival and for a few weeks beyond. Submit your application at: bit.ly/30EgG3ZThe event is open to the public and acts will be scheduled to perform on:• Thursday, Oct. 31, 6-9pm• Friday, Nov. 1, 6-9pm• Saturday, Nov. 2, 12-9pm• Sunday, Nov. 3, 12-6pm• Friday, Nov. 9, 6-9pm• Saturday, Nov. 10, 12-9pm• Sunday, Nov. 11, 12-6pmMusicians, magicians, fitness groups, artists, dancers, mimes, puppeteers, sword-swallowers, face painters, buskers, tumblers ... a diverse combination of groups and individuals will have the opportunity to perform under “Fire and Rain” on opening night and during both weekends of Foo Foo Festival. Performer applications must be received by midnight Friday, August 16, 2019, and multiple time slots may be requested. For more information, contact Courtney Randall at [email protected] Guidelines:• All performers must be preapproved by Friends of Downtown.• You may apply for multiple time slots and multiple mediums.• You must have enough performance material to fill a 1-hour time slot.• Material must be family-friendly and appropriate for audiences of all ages.• No materials or content which are blatantly offensive, racial, disreputable or sexual, shall be allowed.• Amplification must be consistently below 85 dBC at 30 feet or less.• All activities must have a connection of art, food, music or cultural interest.• No fires, explosives or flammable materials are allowed.• No performances in the “Fire and Rain” event will be allowed without direct permission, and all performances will be on a scheduled basis.• Participants shall be responsible for keeping their area clean and safe during performance, and for leaving the space clean afterward.• Collection of tips and donations is allowed.• Event organizers do not provide sound system, seating, stage or guarantee of contributions (tips).Submit your application at: bit.ly/30EgG3ZApplication deadline is Friday, August 16, 2019You will be notified of selection or non-selection by Friday, August 23, 2019“Forgotten” Downtown Alley Transformed into Urban Public Space for Locals and Visitors
Posted: Jun 28, 2019 6:14 PMUpdated: Jan 21, 2020 4:44 PM
A forgotten alleyway behind the Jefferson St. Garage has received a major facelift thanks to the Downtown Improvement Board (DIB). For years, a narrow alley located between the western garage wall and the back entrances of several Palafox Street merchants has been a mostly-overlooked pass-through. The DIB hopes to change that and is revamping the alley with plants, landscaping, lighting, paint and other improvements. Cities around the world are transforming their hidden “laneways” from empty alleys to vibrant, creative spaces. “Back alleys can be some of the most unexpectedly lush, intimate spaces in cities,” wrote Lynn Freehill-May in Travel & Leisure. “Once home to dumpsters and deliveries, these small streets are being rediscovered worldwide, as locals plant trees, install public art, plan festivals and open shops.” The DIB envisions the revitalized alleyway becoming a vibrant, inviting spot for locals and visitors to relax and enjoy music, local food and drinks, public art and community gatherings. “It’s exciting to transform an underutilized alley like this one and expand the diversity of public spaces available downtown,” said DIB executive director Lissa Dees. The DIB has also made recent improvements to the adjacent Jefferson St. Garage entrance area, removing the unused guard shack, restriping the lanes and painting the exterior garage walls. “Through these projects we are prioritizing pedestrians, supporting the character of the downtown district and creating a new ‘front door’ to a forgotten space,” said Dees.DIB Invites the Public to Vote for New Alley Name
Posted: May 15, 2019 7:30 PMUpdated: Jan 21, 2020 4:31 PM
The Downtown Improvement Board (DIB) is inviting the public to choose a name for a new “activated” alleyway behind the Jefferson St. Garage, creating a shared space for entertainment, dining and community events. Votes can be submitted here.The four names under consideration are inspired by Pensacola’s multicultural heritage and include: The Mews — a British term for a safe, traffic-free environment often found along quiet, cobbled lanesBelle Ruelle — French translation for “Beautiful Alley”Allées des Papillon — French translation for “Butterfly Alley”Callejon Panzacola — Spanish translation for “Panzacola Alley”. Panzacola was a name of Native American origin that Spain later adopted as the name of the area“Our goal with the name is to pay homage to Pensacola’s rich history while creating a fresh, new space for all to enjoy,” said Executive Director of the DIB, Lissa Dees, “We want the public to be a part of this exciting project, and we look forward to seeing which name comes out on top.”The alley is currently undergoing significant improvements from pressure-washing and improved lighting to artistic ground painting and landscaping in preparation for the official opening. The alley will offer a colorful canvas for the community to come together in a fun and imaginative setting.In addition to these improvements, the DIB has removed the guard shack from the entrance of the Jefferson St. Garage, restriped the entrance and exit lanes and painted three of its exterior walls. “The safety and aesthetic appearance of the garage and the surrounding area are important to downtown visitors and to us,” said Dees, “and we love being able to transform this space into something for residents, business owners and visitors to enjoy.”