A new urban attraction in the CBD, The City Walk, will be co-created through multi-level stakeholder engagement, announced the Cape Town Partnership at its AGM on Wednesday 5 November.
Unfolding in 2015, it will bring the city’s Big Six tourism attractions (Cape Point, Robben Island, Groot Constantia, Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch and the V&A Waterfront) up to seven.
Prioritising the very DNA of Cape Town – its people and street life – The City Walk will see the cultural, economic and social upliftment of the city’s interconnected public space. This pedestrian spine of the city starts in the Company’s Garden, proceeds down Government Avenue and St George’s Mall, before turning onto the Fan Walk and ending at the Prestwich Memorial in St Andrew’s Square (please see details on featured map above).
The precinct will feature free wireless and the evolution of informative signage to assist in peeling back the layers of Cape Town’s hidden stories. The introduction of more public ablutions, experimental street food offerings, permanent as well as temporary public art, and event activations will form a practical aspect to developing the space as a lively destination.
Recognised for its safety, liveability and tourism desirability, the Cape Town CBD is steeped in heritage, public art, retail and events – both informal and formal. The City Walk will thread these elements together across all the layers of the Cape Town CBD story into an informative, engaging precinct to captivate both locals and visitors.
More than responding to the growing tourism trend for authentic urban experiences, the City Walk is key to activating Cape Town’s CBD as a 24-hour city. The Cape Town Partnership envisions the route as an extension of the daytime foot traffic in the area, with spin-offs for the surrounding businesses, residents and commuters.
“The development of a curated route or cultural precinct is something that will involve the stakeholders and participants in this story,” says Cape Town Partnership CEO, Bulelwa Makalima-Ngewana. Speaking at the AGM, she appealed to the public to work with them to co-create the route. “We envision a team of stakeholders who will be able to engage with us about the narrative of this route. We want it to be authentic, and to include diverse voices and perspectives.”
These voices would include those of both formal and informal retailers, cultural and historical landmarks and institutions, and organisations concerned with contemporary development and public life, as well as residents, visitors, students, scholars, artists, entrepreneurs and everyone who finds themselves engaging with the city.
The project has already been endorsed by the City of Cape Town. “For visitors such a route will immediately provide an accessible and coherent means to experience Cape Town as a city destination. For locals such a route can open up the city, provide a sense of inclusivity and encourage the sense of Cape Town being a ‘crossroads’ or meeting point across divergent histories, cultures and demographics,” enthused Tim Harris, head of the City of Cape Town’s Investment directorate.
The Cape Town Partnership is welcoming conversation through an email address citywalk@capetownpartnership.co.za or social media hashtags #CityWalkCT.
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