Jacksonville group hopes to use lasers and lights to boost St Johns River appeal

[KenFSU]

Jacksonville group hopes to use lasers and lights to boost St. Johns River appeal

Bright lights, big river.

That's the combination a group of Jacksonville architects envisions for downtown's Riverwalk, saying columns of lights spaced like a glittering necklace could turn the St. Johns River into a "river of light."

The concept is in its beginning stages, but it has gained early backing from City Council President Lori Boyer. She is in the midst of a wide-ranging look at how to bring more activity of all kinds to the St. Johns River.

Full story:
http://jacksonville.com/news/2017-02-05/jacksonville-group-hopes-use-lasers-and-lights-boost-st-johns-river-appeal

[johnnyliar]

Damn. this is stupid.

[BridgeTroll]

Baby steps... lets figure out how to change light bulbs on bridges before installing lasers all over the river banks... 

[acme54321]

Baby steps... lets figure out how to change light bulbs on bridges before installing lasers all over the river banks... 

No joke...

[Dapperdan]

I would be happy if they restored the lights on the main street bridge to how it looked during Superbowl and put a new LED board on it . I will admit during the Superbowl, lasers were pointed everywhere and it looked nice.

[Adam White]

Interesting.

Of course, if you're looking to "bring more activity of all kinds to the St. Johns River" downtown, the key is to develop downtown. Putting lights on the river might get people to go down there and check it out. But soon they will tire of the novelty.

[Josh]

Pointless unless we commit to maintaining the systems.

[camarocane]

And we all know how that will end up.

[Dapperdan]

The article does state a upkeep company will be hired and factored into the price.

[RattlerGator]

Might as well give them some dap for an interesting proposal -- although I'm sure the appearance of competence (The article does state a upkeep company will be hired and factored into the price) won't mean much to some. I'll be very curious to see how this evolves.

[Snufflee]

So I am supposed to head downtown to see lights and do what after I stare at lights... ? 

[Dapperdan]

So I am supposed to head downtown to see lights and do what after I stare at lights... ? 

Maybe I am reading it wrong, but I believe they want to put the lights near points of interest that are already there. More or less to highlight them and kind of lure people to those areas.

[coredumped]

I can't wait until I'm running my boat there and a laser shoots me in the eye!

[remc86007]

So I am supposed to head downtown to see lights and do what after I stare at lights... ? 

Buy a drink and continue to stare at the lights.

[Captain Zissou]

Baby steps... lets figure out how to change light bulbs on bridges before installing lasers all over the river banks... 

I walk the northbank riverwalk almost every day.  Over the past couple months, someone has been destroying the decorative lights in front of FIS, FNF, Everbank, and Dupont.  Smashing the bulbs, pulling the fixtures out of the ground, graffiti, etc...  I think they were paid for and installed by the private companies, but it was sad to see them slowly become an eyesore.  This past weekend someone removed all of the fixtures and covered the wires protruding from the ground in electrical tape.  The overhead lights from the Haskell to the YMCA are out and have been out for months.  Considering this is one of the most prominent and populated public spaces in the city, it's sad to see it in such a state of disrepair.