City Council Gives Nod to Trespass Ordinance at Riverwalk

The ordinance passed the council on first reading and will come up for final approval at the next council meeting.

After more than two dozen calls for help, 83 traffic stops and 54 calls for back up at Riverwalk's skate park, officers asked the City Council for a new tool in keeping the park safe for skaters. The city council passed a first draft of a new ordinance that will allow officers to issue trespass citations at the public park that could ban certain trouble makers for as long as a year. A. J. Cerniglia, a master patrol officer with the Bradenton Police Department, was grateful to have another tool to help put an end to the problems at the skate park. He said the biggest complaint is about kids fighting. Although he said some of the skaters have reported having bkes, skate boards and back packs stolen while they are skating in the park. He said…

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Bradenton Business Spotlight

Classic Ink Tattoo Studio Supports the Arts in Downtown Bradenton

Classic Ink tattoo parlor, established in 2009, was part of an effort to invigorate the art community in downtown Bradenton.

Brandon Sommers believes that art and community go hand in hand — which is why he chose downtown Bradenton as the home for his tattoo studio, Classic Ink. It was the eclectic mixture of diverse clientele that drew the former resident of Manhattan’s “Hell’s Kitchen” to the downtown area after he moved to Bradenton in 2008 to be with his wife. Sommers immediately noted the restaurants and bars, burgeoning nightlife and the camaraderie between local artists and the business community in downtown Bradenton and in 2009, opened the area’s first and only tattoo parlor on Old Main Street. “I knew that the nightlife was guaranteed to keep me open, but in the three years that I’ve been here, I’ve been excited to see so much growth in all of the …

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Basin Under Bridge Is Not a Community Pool

The basin is in the ground and the skate park is expected to be completed in just two months.

A concrete basin under the DeSoto Bridge has people wondering whether a new comunity pool is coming to downtown. The new construction across from the hospital is the much anticipated skate park. The raised basin that looks like it could be a swimming pool is the bowl where skaters drop in. Next to it an elaborate series of jumps, steps and straightaways are under construction. The skate park is expected to be completed by mid July, about six weeks before the official opening of Riverwalk. Keeping skaters out of the park before the official opening is going to be a challenge, said David Gustafson, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority.  It's not just the skate park that's close to completion, a pier is already done, docks…

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Carolyn and Cricket

2:09 pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Hey Toni (my evil twin), it's nice that will be a place that isgeared to the interest of younger residents. Neat article, especially after the sunday paper article about skateboarding for more than just kids. Although I doubt if I ready for the "Bowl".   more ›

Riverwalk Project Clears Another Hurdle

Residents lobby for inclusion of restaurants, skate park as DDA approves concept plan, construction budget and bond issue.

The Riverwalk development project cleared another hurdle Thursday as residents lobbied for the inclusion of waterfront dining and a world-class skate park. The Downtown Development Authority unanimously approved a concept plan and a $6.2 million construction budget for the project, which includes a boat ramp, kayak launch, sand volleyball courts, improved lighted paths for walking and bicycling and more along the Manatee River. The DDA also approved a financing plan, which will include a bond issuance of $5.8 million. That bond issuance will come before city council for final approval on Feb. 23. "This is a great day for the city of Bradenton," DDA board chairman Will Robinson said. Project manager Dale Weidemiller said the DDA has about $…

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Public Gets A Glimpse Of Riverwalk Design

Residents check out proposed features, voice their concerns over proposed $6.2 million project.

For some, it's the opportunity to take in a concert performance while looking out onto the Manatee River. For others, it's the ability to dock their boat for the day as they visit downtown Bradenton. And for others still, it's the chance for hassle-free skateboarding on a professionally designed course that's right in their hometown. There were a number of reasons most of the 100 or so Bradenton residents who came out to Wednesday's public unveiling of the proposed Riverfront and Rossi Waterfron Park improvement project seemed happy. Many of them had previously taken part in a Realize Bradenton survey that sought public input for the $6.2 million enhancements aimed at revitalizing the waterfront and attracting more people downtown. "This …

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