USF Grad Students Propose Ideas for Riverwalk Enhancement

As Bradenton continues to etch out plans for a vibrant downtown setting to attract residents, businesses and tourists alike, University of South Florida graduate students took a stab Wednesday at what the future could look like for the city's Riverwalk.

Their vision? Shaded walking paths that are lighted at night, a skateboard park, a covered fishing pier, kayak/rowing zones and a boat dock, for starters. Their ideas might be integrated into the city's $2 million Riverwalk enhancement project, which is set to break ground Dec. 6. The project is hoped to not only make downtown more pedestrian-friendly and enjoyable, but help with continued efforts to stimulate downtown's economy.

"What we have is a unique opportunity to take the city of Bradenton and capitalize on the riverfront that we have," Dale Weidermiller, project administrator for Bradenton Downtown Development Authority's Riverwalk and Artisan Avenue projects, said to the crowd that filled Mattison's...