WILTON MANORS —Wilton Manors officials have announced the closure of Wilton Drive to vehicular traffic for the February 15 Island City Art Walk (ICAW) and the city’s “HeARTS on the Drive” event.
At a meeting last week in the City Commission chambers, Community Development Services Director Heidi Shafran and Economic Development Coordinator Randy Welker met with business and community leaders to discuss the planned closure of Wilton Drive, and its potential impact to the street’s businesses.
Shafran told the Agenda that the input of the Drive merchants was crucial to ensuring the evening, which will commemorate both the Art Walk, which will host artists at participating business along the Drive, as well as a chance to celebrate Valentine’s Day for one more night.
“We’re excited about the Drive being closed for Art Walk,” said Anthony LoGrande, co-owner of ICAW. “It’s going to be a fun evening, with artists on the Drive, music and each business doing their own thing and spilling out into the street.” LoGrande and business partner Krishan Manners have hired strolling musicians to entertain visitors to the Drive.
The Art Walk, which takes place every third Friday of the month, from November to April, is now in its seventh year. Over 35 businesses sponsor the Art Walk, which features representations from a wide range of mediums and genres, including sculpture, paintings, and handcrafted jewelry.
The idea of combining a Valentine’s Day event with the Art Walk came from the city’s Shafran, who wanted to offer the business community the opportunity to utilize the Drive’s pedestrian-friendly environment to create what is hoped will become an annual event.
Parking for the dual event will be available at the municipal lot behind City Hall, via access from Dixie Highway to Northeast 21st Court and from Wilton Drive on the south to Northeast 20th Street.
“This event is classic Wilton Manors,” said Manners, who also serves as CEO and President of the Wilton Manors Development Alliance. “Love and art come in every form – why not celebrate both?”
What an ill conceived nightmare for all concerned! Businesses suffered losses from the drive being closed at 3pm, residents taken by surprise by the poorly advertised event were forced to sit in traffic jams filled with visitors and locals alike confused as how to get home much less to their dinner reservations, happy hours, shopping and real estate appointments…absolutely no concern for disabled visitors, residents or business patrons…in a town that has played games over closing the drive when several thousand people line the street for a holiday event, for this nonsense event to create such a sales tax loss, traffic nightmare and dangerous conditions for local and visiting disabled alike…Is a disgrace!