On Friday, August 10th at 8:15 pm, downtown is going to get a little bit brighter with Lights On Tampa: Agua Luces.
Mayor Buckhorn, Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas, and the Lights On Tampa Committee will lead the event from Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, officially revealing five downtown bridges with artistic lighting designed by artist Tracey Dear. The installation is a permanent addition to downtown. Four other landmark bridges in Tampa will feature colorful and artistic lighting as part of the program.
The featured downtown bridges include:
- Platt Street Bridge
- Brorein Street Bridge
- Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority overpass
- Kennedy Boulevard Bridge
- CSX Railroad Bridge
There are specific vistas along the Tampa Riverwalk (listed below) which are vantage points for viewing the five different bridges. Parts of the Riverwalk take you under the bridges for an up-close and personal experience with the lights. This map (PDF) indicates the various points to experience the bridge lighting.
The lighting of the bridges on August 10th will be immediately followed by a free screening of “The Wizard of Oz,” as part of the city’s Screen on the Green program.
More About Light On Tampa
Lights On Tampa is a public/private partnership between the City of Tampa’s Art Programs Division and the Public Art Alliance, a 501(c)3 organization. The Program began in 2006 with the desire to bring something bold, of high quality and “on the moment” to Tampa. The objective was to literally put the spotlight on Tampa and its regional assets. The Program returned in 2009 when Tampa hosted the NFL’s Super Bowl XLIII. In 2010, the Program was recognized as one of the 50 most significant art programs in the U.S. in the last 50 years (Americans for the Arts).
The City of Tampa hopes that with continued private sector support Agua Luces will be extended to the remaining bridges in downtown by 2014. Lighting all nine bridges, as well as the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway which intersects with the Tampa Riverwalk, is a fundamental vision for the City of Tampa.
For additional information and frequently asked questions, visit LightsonTampa.org.
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