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DTSB I Bringing the River to Light Community Identity / Placemaking Comparable projects such as Bloomington. Indiana's "Light Totem" and Providence, Rhode Island's "Water Fire" have generated a groundswell of support from and enthusiasm for their local communities. Creating a true sense of place in a given environment, these community- galvan izing projects are the types of things for which South Bend yearns. Public Safety Preserving the safety of the downtown is a constant goal and one that is synonymous with development potential. A vibrant riverfront will contribute to that end. "Bringing the River to Light" would create an environment that reclaims the riverfront from the shadows of night and provide yet another safe nighttime attraction for downtown. Geographic Development Node The project area is a prime development corridor and an important geographic node to incite, complete and complement other development projects throughout the city. First and foremost, this project would serve to connect both the east & west sides of the river, which are historically divided at many levels. This is also a high profile link in the chain that connects downtown to the activity to the north east (East Bank Village, St. Joseph High School, Eddy Street Developments and Notre Dame), to the south (Dining & Arts District, Coveleski Stadium. Renaissance District and Ignition Park), to the north (Memorial Hospital), and to the west (West Washington, Near Northwest Neighborhood and Lincolnway to the Airport). Arts & Culture The artistic nature of this lighting project will outwardly and boldly highlight South Bend as a community committed to arts and culture. The economic engines associated with arts and culture initiatives have been widely documented. Terms such as "creative economy," "creative class," and "cultural economy" are becoming more common among urban planners, arts administrators, economic developers, and business and municipal leaders. Whatever label is used, this use of terminology linking culture and the economy indicates recognition of the connections among the fields of planning, economic development, and arts and culture. The American Planning Association recently released an article titled How the Arts and Culture Sector Cotah_es Economic Vitality. The article explains how "the activities of the arts and culture sector and local economic vitality are connected in many ways. Arts, culture, and creativity can: -improve a community's competitive edge -create a foundation for defining a sense of place -attract new and visiting populations -integrate the visions of community and business leaders -contribute to the development of a skilled workforce. "' Recreation The backdrop of this lighting installation will immediately cement the downtown riverfront as a prime destination for special events of all varieties. It will also serve to enhance the popularity of current events which utilize the river, such as the Seitz Park Summer Concert Series. whitewater events on the East Race and special events at the Century Center Island. This project will also serve to recognize our river as a form of recreation for runners, walkers, bikers and boaters alike. Integrated into this venture is a scalability that could include various, complementary lighting installations along the entire South Bend river walk. Energy Efficient Model Blending a hydroelectric power source with modem lighting technology is an excellent way to educate our community on the City of South Bend's ongoing green initiatives which arc broad and complex. It is also a tool to powerfully illustrate the advanced nature of our city. PLAN OF ACTION DTSB has solicited the expertise of Rob Shakespeare to design and install the project. Shakespeare is a professional lighting designer specializing in theater and dramatic architectural designs. With more than 200 lighting designs, his work has been seen throughout three continents on renowned theaters, resorts, skyscrapers, and some of the world's largest bridges. Recently, he has had a special focus on art museum lighting and specialized lighting installations. In July 2012, Shakespeare visited South Bend and took careful study of the project site. He also conducted an initial stakeholder meeting with city officials, area business owners, developers and leaders of local organizations. ' American Planners Association, www.nianning..ow "Economic Vitality: How the Arts & Culture Sector Catalyzes Economic Vitality ". 2011. 21 Page