Visit Indy, a component of the Indiana Convention and Visitor’s Association, recently launched a new self-guided, audio walking tour of Indy’s prominent buildings, venues, and landmarks. They are also developing a new smartphone application and provide the ability for users to download mp3s of the audio tour and to listen to at their own pace and schedule. Here’s the website which launched last week http://www.walkindianapolis.org
Visit Indy brought on board the local AIA-Indianapolis Chapter to provide their opinions, expertise, and “virtual tour guides” to narrate the mp3 tours.
Seeing how cities are dynamic built environments and not just a compilation of buildings, the Indiana Chapter of ASLA approached Visit Indy to become a strategic partner of Walk Indianapolis. The meeting was positive and they are excited to have more experts providing content to the project. Brian Staresnick, the chapter’s Public Awareness Representative, will soon create a committee of local landscape architects and urban designers to provide content as the experts on the urban network of streets, districts, neighborhoods, parks, transportation corridors, trails, and public spaces.
He was relieved when the main organizer was receptive to the idea of recognizing that great cities are the result of the relationships between buildings, streets, and open space – he barely had to explain what landscape architects do!
This happened yesterday after work, so the Indiana Chapter has barely scratched the surface. The major parks are obvious, but we will also highlight our award winning bicycle trails, distinct neighborhoods, and the cultural districts in downtown. The next step will include photographing the places, and developing a write-up of each space and then recording the guides reading the script.
From a technology stand point, the site is already up and running. A local creative marketing company donated their resources to create the website, and develop an iPhone ap. So, for the most part, we can focus on the content.
Boom! Brian recognized AIA’s success and then jumped on the opportunity. Cool new projects and proposals pop up every day and it’s up all us of to spot them and participate so the world’s not left without the voice of landscape architecture. Keep your ears to the ground!
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