Years: 2025
The 2025 KCCI Community Catalyst Team is helping transform downtown Tallahassee into a vibrant, welcoming, and safe destination through innovative placemaking initiatives. Through thoughtful design focused on the area near South Calhoun Street, the Leon County Courthouse, and City Hall via Bicentennial Square, KCCI’s projects enhance pedestrian safety, celebrate local art, and foster community pride.
2025 Placemaking Projects:
Artistic Crosswalks to the Courthouse
In collaboration with Leon County Government, the KCCI team introduced three vibrant Color-Safe artistic crosswalks connecting the South Calhoun Street parking garage to the Leon County Courthouse. These crosswalks slow traffic, enhance pedestrian safety, and add a splash of creativity to downtown, marking the team’s first placemaking win of 2025.
Art of the Box
To compliment the crosswalks and further enhance the user experience while walking downtown an Art of the Box was added at the corner of E. College Avenue and S. Calhoun Street. Art of the Box is when a traffic control is transformed into a radiant piece of public art; in this case the artwork features Rosiclair-Reyes’s “Harmonic Suns.” This accessible artwork enhances the area’s aesthetic while maintaining functionality, delighting residents and visitors alike. This box also continues the artists corridor of artistic boxes that run along College Avenue.
Kinetic Sculpture near the Leon County Courthouse
Small scale improvements also make a placemaking impact. The KCCI team is excited to announce the installation of a kinetic sculpture in a small parklet outside of the Leon County Courthouse. This artwork features a gentle, flowing motion and adds a focal point to the area, inviting passersby to reflect, pause and enjoy. Research suggests that moving visual art can promote relaxation by engaging attention and reducing stress, making this sculpture a perfect addition to placemaking efforts. Stay tuned to KCCI’s social media posts exploring these benefits!
Bicentennial Square: Phase 1 Enhancements
Building on the KCCI 2024 team’s Bicentennial Square Vision Plan, approved and funded by the downtown CRA in October 2024, the KCCI 2025 team is activating Bicentennial Square as a welcoming community space. Thanks to the leadership of the City of Tallahassee with input from KCCI Community Catalysts, Phase 1 elements were completed June 2025. This includes:
• Colonnade Lighting: Installed to enhance safety, ambiance, and lighting at night in the urban park.
• Creative Bike Rack: I Heart Tallahassee-themed design, installed to encourage wellness and cycling.
• Vibrant Flowering Planters: Old, gray bollards were replaced with colorful, welcoming plants. The planters include a self-watering system, which captures rainwater and uses a wicking mechanism to draw water up to the plant roots as needed. Click here to see a picture of before and after.
• Bicentennial Square Signage: This improves wayfinding.
These improvements promote safety and create an inviting atmosphere. An upcoming reveal celebration of these Phase 1 elements will be held in partnership with the City of Tallahassee.
Bicentennial Square: Phase 2 Plans
Looking ahead, Phase 2 will further define Bicentennial Square as a community hub with creative seating and improved trash receptacles. In addition, the City is working with professional architects and engineering teams to design and identify exactly how the future park can look once the City’s waterproofing project is completed.
Placemaking Week 2025
Join KCCI for the 7th Annual Placemaking Week in September 2025! This multi-week celebration will showcase creative ideas and community-driven improvements that shape the vision and placemaking of public spaces in Tallahassee.
Impact Snapshot
KCCI’s 2025 initiatives are transforming downtown Tallahassee into a vibrant, safer, and more connected community:
- 3 Artistic Crosswalks: Enhancing pedestrian safety.
- 60% of 450+ Surveyed Residents: Called for natural design elements, reflected in Bicentennial Square’s planters.
- Phase 1 & 2 Funding for Bicentennial Square: Secured through a Downtown CRA grant, approved October 2024.
- Community Pride: The “Harmonic Suns” in the Crosswalks and Art of the Box, and the kinetic sculpture bring beauty and connection to downtown public spaces.
- Nearly 40% of 450+ Surveyed Residents said they desired more artistic elements.
Connect with Us
The KCCI team is driven by community input and collaboration. Share your thoughts on Bicentennial Square’s Phase 2 seating or propose an idea for Placemaking Week! Follow KCCI’s Instagram and stay tuned on kccitallahassee.com for live updates.
Through thoughtful design, the KCCI Community Catalyst team’s project(s) contribute to a more connected, inclusive, and dynamic urban experience.
More Ideas
Stay tuned for more downtown ideas from the KCCI team in collaboration with community partners.
The 2025 KCCI Community Catalyst team includes:
Bianca Rhoades, Hancock Whitney Bank; Chicarla Pye, Florida Legislature; Chris Eppes, First Commerce Credit Union, Christi Billington, McKee Insurance- Acentria; Dr. Ruth Bedell, Bedell Consulting, LLC; Eliza Chase, Cambridge Systematics, Inc.; Elizabeth Barron, Ausley McMullen; Eric Pate, City of Tallahassee; Grace Shepherd, DAG Architects; Hollie Myers, Century 21 First Story Real Estate; Jonathan Klepper, Florida State University; Lori Elliott, Capital City Bank; Maxim D. Nasab, Apexx Architecture; Rachel Corry, Moore; Sam Franklin, Colony Bank; Verlonda Johnson, Preeminence Contracting and Construction. Congratulations to these outstanding individuals for being selected to serve on the 2025 KCCI Community Catalyst team!