The Coronavirus pandemic put a bit of stall on the Downtown Kissimmee Area Council’s Downtown Beautification Awards, but this week they awarded Osceola Arts, the City of Kissimmee, and Experience Kissimmee for the three new murals that have been added Downtown. Marilyn Cortes-Lovato, Visual Arts Director at Osceola Arts, received the letter of recognition Monday morning, and the a-frame sign will be displayed at Osceola Arts through June and July.
The murals are part of the “The Time for Art is Now” project, which saw four murals crop up around Downtown Kissimmee last year. The hope is to expand the project into other parts of Osceola County next year. According to Cortes-Lovato, "'The Time for Art is Now’ murals program is about bringing the community together through the arts and inspiring conversation and positive dialog.” All of the murals were designed and painted by local artists.
If you haven’t been to Downtown Kissimmee to see the new murals yet, be sure to check them out. Start at Broadway Pizza, where The Florida Panther now decorates the side of the restaurant.
The Snowy Egret can be found above Lanier’s Antiques on Broadway.
The Koi Fish can be found on the side of Uniform Cottage facing the Toho Square Parking Garage.
The Bengal Tiger, the site of the Beautification Award presentation, appears at the corner of Darlington and Broadway.
The Downtown Beautification Award is warded to businesses and entities that work to make physical improvements to Downtown Kissimmee. These murals are a perfect example of that, and just what the community needs right now. As Cortes-Lovato put it, "Come down...it's free! Look around, buy local, dine out, and a enjoy a wonderful stroll through these eight murals!"
Osceola Redi, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, is a coalition of governmental agencies, faith-based and non-profit organizations, businesses, and individuals dedicated to assisting victims of disasters, from hurricanes to the current COVID-19-related fallout, by pooling our community's collective resources. "Redi" stands for "Recovery from Emergency Disaster Initiative," and as such, the organization provides a comprehensive and integrated approach as Osceola County prepares for, responds to, and recovers from disasters that impact our community.
Side effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have seen many of our county's residents out of work and struggling to provide for their families. Osceola Redi is currently challenging our community to collectively raise $100,000 to support our local food pantries.
The DKAC Accepts Osceola Redi's Challenge
At their recent board meeting, our Downtown Kissimmee Area Council heard this challenge and made the decision to donate $1000 to the cause. They want to challenge other organizations in our community to donate within their means as well. Watch below as DKAC Chairman Brianne Stefek speaks about Osceola Redi and the DKAC specifically challenges the Hospitality and Tourism Council to follow in their footsteps.
https://youtu.be/ZMoXMtommOU
PAC Responds to the DKAC's Challenge
The Poinciana Area Council heard that the DKAC was encouraging other organizations to make donations to Osceola Redi. They eagerly accepted the challenge and have now donated $1000 as well! Go PAC! Watch below as they accept the challenge:
Parkways Business Council Joins the Challenge
Wait, it doesn't end there! Not wishing to be left out the Parkways Business Council has also joined the Osceola Redi challenge with a donation of $500! Who will be next?
You can donate to Osceola Redi at OsceolaRedi.org or FeedingOsceola.org. Help them reach their goal!
Following the governor’s announcement that the state would move into "Full Phase I," the state's amusement parks were permitted to open following submission of a re-opening plan to the County and State governments. In an effort to make the process easier to navigate, County Manager Don Fisher and the Chamber hosted a Zoom call with our local attractions owners last Friday. Participants heard recommendations from Mr. Fisher, Department of Emergency Management Director Bill Litton, consultant Sarah Matthews, and Brett Smith with the Osceola County Department of Health.
Here are some important takeaways from that call that attractions will want to keep in mind as they open, and that guests will want to keep in mind as they choose which attractions to visit.
Tips from Osceola County Economic Development
David Rodriguez with the County’s Department of Economic Development, recommended that attractions owners and operators check out the new WeveOpenedSafely.org site for a list of guidelines issued by a variety of industries, as well as the CDC. The CDC’s guidelines include ones specific to amusement parks. There is now a tab on the WeveOpenedSafely.org site where attractions may fill out a form and submit their plan directly. The review process will move as quickly as possible, but will depend on thoroughness of the plan submitted.
Tips from the Department of Health
Bret Smith with the Department of Health added that he is specifically looking for park capacity, signage, social distancing, and PPE requirements for guests and staff. He also offered a great tip to attractions that have been dormant for the last three months: flush your water line!. Additional guidelines attractions should provide in their plans include how they will handle sick employees, a screening process for employees, and plans for tracking cross-contamination in the case of a sick employee. The Health Department can send a consultant out to an attraction if requested.
Advice from the County Consultant
Sarah Matthews, a consultant hired by Osceola County to review attractions’ reopening plans, said that she will look at all possibilities when reviewing plans, and will help the attraction to be covered as best as possible going into the future and accounting for future possibilities.
Tips from Osceola County Emergency Management
Emergency Management Director Bill Litton advised creating a step-by-step reopening plan with a neat cover letter. Specifics are important, such as hand sanitizer and the potency of the sanitizer. Hand sanitizer should content 60%-95% isopropyl alcohol and surface sanitizers should contain 60%-80%. Disinfectants should be EPA approved. He also recommends showing research and providing a chain of supply for the PPE that will be required for guests and staff. It is necessary to show that PPE is obtainable.
Updates on our Member Attractions
That was great advice, and many of our member attractions have taken it to heart, as they have either reopened or plan to reopen soon. Please see the list below, with links, of which of our member attractions have either reopened or will open soon!
Experience Kissimmee
Experience Kissimmee, Osceola’s tourism gurus, have coloring pages and other fun activities available on their Facebook Page, and you can take a Virtual Kissimmee Vacation on their website.
Fun Spot Kissimmee
Fun Spot is OPEN from noon to 10:00 pm.
GATORLAND
Gatorland is OPEN!
Gay Days
Gay Days has moved from June 2020 to October 27 -November 2, 2020 and will be known as Gay Days Halloween. Learn more at their website.
Island Grove Wine Company at Formosa Gardens
Island Grove Wine Company is open and also offering curbside pickup.
Island H2O Live!
Island H2O Live! is OPEN!
Maxflight Helicopter Tours
Maxflight Helicopter Tours is OPEN!
Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
Medieval Times is currently closed, but you can find fun interactive videos on their YouTube page.
Museum of Military History
The Museum of Military History is OPEN!
Old Town
Old Town is OPEN!
Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park
Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park is OPEN!
Osceola Arts
Osceola Arts’ 2019-2020 season will resume on July 17 with Once on this Island.
Osceola County Welcome Center and Museum
The Welcome Center and Museum are OPEN!
Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek
The Pioneer Village is OPEN!
Revolution – The Off Road Experience
Revolution Off-Road reopens May 29.
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
Some shopping and dining locations at Disney Springs are open.
Walt Disney World has proposed that Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom will open on July 11 and EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15, pending approval from the governor.
Wild Florida
Wild Florida will resume full operations on June 1.
