Arts and Culture Opportunities
The Port Jervis Transportation Museum is a proposed transportation museum at the historic Erie Railyard and turntable. Operation Toy Train museum proposal was approved by the city of Port Jervis in August. Read more about the museum online.
Public Art
With a lot of talented artists in the area, Port Jervis could join other cities who promote legal murals in designated spots around a city or in a single designated area. Examples include Freak Alley in Boise and the Newark Allery. The map pictured, provided by vistiminot shows street art found in Downtown Minot.
Living History
Port Jervis' downtown can highlight its history through signage in front of buildings or through more enganging and interactive ways. One example of this is Cite Memoire in Montreal, projections at night that tell stories of the history around Montreal and can be further enhanced by a supportive app. Pictured is an art installation in Downtown Boise. When you look through these viewers, you see historic photographs at the locations of scenes and buildings where they would be today. The City of Milwaukee recently unveiled similar viewers as a project called Viewaukee.
Sister Cities
Sister cities or twinned towns are agreements between communities to promote cultural understanding and commercial development. There are over one hundred communities in the United States smaller than Port Jervis with established sister cities. Port Jervis could twin with one city or multiple cities. Appropriate sister city candidates could include those with a similar size, topography and history. Porth in Wales, Devizes in England and Givet in France are similar sizes, have similar terrain and were important canal and railroad towns. Port Jervis could twin with cities of similar names such as Jervis Bay or Cape Jervis, both in Australia or some variation of Port in the name or similar size such as Port-Cartier, Canada; Port Rafti in Greece; Porto Santo Stefano in Italy; Puerto Morelos in Mexico; or Port Chalmers, New Zealand. Additionally, as a member of Sister Cities International, the City of Port Jervis could find partnerships through their Cities seeking Cities programs. Port Jervis could promote the partnership with a designation of a sister city park, through signage and through city or country flags, as well as cultural and educational exchanges. The city property at Park Avenue and West Main Street would be a good location for a Sister Cities Park as it has good visibility and it would be too small for many other uses.
Public Chalkboard
Public Chalkboards are another way to enhance a sense of community and allow for public art. This example from Wichita incorpoates a rotating featured artist as well as a question which people can write their answers.
Public Sculpture
Public Sclupture further beautifies towns and also gives tourists and citizens an opportunity to see art for free. Walking around some cities, such as Amsterdam and Wichita, it is clear to see that the communities value artistic expression. Pictured here are small bronze models of historical landmarks located around the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. These sculptures provide the community with public art, but also a sense of history. Port Jervis could commision a project like this to display historic buildings like the Farnum Building and Post Office, the Opera Building or the Roundhouse.
Art Festival
Port Jervis is an artistic community and one with many scheduled events. A dedicated arts festival would be a good way to attract more visitors and to allow regional artists to share and sell their works.
Repaint the Erie Railroad Bridge
The paint and the painted lettering on the Erie Railroad Bridge over East Main Street is barely visible. Repainting the bridge would restore the character and the history.
Add lighting to the Pike Street underpass
Several underpasses in US cities, such as in Birmingham, AL and Albuquerque, NM use lighting to encourage more bicycle and pedestrain use and to create an interesting attraction for visitors. This tunnel pictured in Cumbernauld, Scotland, has low energy LED lighting as well as a mural created by students. A similar project could make the drive into Port from the west more interesting and inviting to visitors and could enhance the experience for bicyclists and pedestrian using the tunnel.
Flags or flowers
Flags or flowers along the roads on the approach into town would enhance the experience for visitors driving into or through the town.
