Friends of the Riverwalk

Promoting the Riverwalk - Friends of the Riverwalk continued its successful corporate banner program in 2023 where local businesses promoted their organizations and special events on customized banners along the Riverwalk. Foot traffic along the Riverwalk well exceeds 100,000 visitors each month and continues to increase. Banners are displayed along the Riverwalk year-round as an effort to enhance the brand of the tampa Riverwalk, as well as to promote local businesses. There are 110 light poles along the tampa Riverwalk with 202 available banner spaces. 48 organizations advertised on Riverwalk banner space during 2023.the Friends of the Riverwalk specialty cup program allowed individuals to exit a licensed premise within the Riverwalk specialty center and possess and consume alcoholic beverages anywhere within the confines of the Riverwalk open container area between the hours of 11 am and 1 am. Friends of the Riverwalk handled the ordering and delivery of city-approved specialty cups to vendors within the specialty zone. Friends of the Riverwalk also continued its popular paving the way program in 2023. the paving the way program raised funds for the organization while adding to the identity and sense of place on the Riverwalk, allowing residents and visitors to commemorate special occasions, honor loved ones and share their love of tampa on a personalized 12"x 12" granite paver. In 2023, 381 personalized pavers were engraved on the tampa Riverwalk.

Marketing the Riverwalk - Friends of the Riverwalk produces the #1 attraction publication pulled in racks throughout the tampa bay area. the tampa attraction & Riverwalk brochure provides great awareness of what our beautiful city has to offer including local attractions and entertainment, hotels, restaurants, transportation options and exciting community events. the brochure is printed twice a year, once in the spring/summer and again in the fall/winter. Over 150,000 of these brochures are distributed around tampa, the region, and the entire state. An electronic version of the brochure is also available on our website. Friends of the Riverwalk also hosts the official tampa Riverwalk website and social media pages including facebook, instagram and twitter. Our website, with over 400k visitors annually, provides up-to-date Riverwalk and event information. Our social media platforms have a tremendous reach and significant audience interaction. Our weekly Riverwalk roundup newsletter, distributed to over 3,000 with an over 50% open rate, keeps our followers informed of weekly events along the Riverwalk.

Activation of the Riverwalk - Friends of the Riverwalk was proud to host several free, family-friendly, community events along the Riverwalk in 2023 including tampa riverfest, the july 4th boat parade & blessing of the fleet, Riverwalk trick or treat, the holiday harbour tree lighting, the holiday spectacular and the holiday lighted boat parade. Not only do we activate on land in the parks but we also bring the waterways to life as well with our festive boat parades. Our events activate the entire 2.6 miles of Riverwalk throughout the year. Total attendance for our events exceeds 75,000 people per year positively impacting the local economy. Over 100 local businesses supported Friends of the Riverwalk events in 2023 as sponsors or vendors. Partnering with other nonprofit organizations on Riverwalk events is critical for activation. In addition to hosting events, Friends of the Riverwalk takes responsibility for keeping our Riverwalk and waterways clean and safe and hosts Riverwalk clean-ups bi-monthly collecting 180 bags and 868 pounds of trash in 2023.