Honoring museums, bookmobiles and innovation

The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council’s Future of the Region Awards honor innovation and regional cooperation, and this year’s winners fit the bill.

One of the top honors went to The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art for its transformation of a vacant St. Petersburg office building into a stunning museum. Use of stone, glass, bronze and water create a natural feel for co-founders Tom and Mary James’ collection.

Other notable winners include Tampa’s Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, Largo’s Library in Your Neighborhood Bookmobile, and Manatee County’s EMS Raptor 1 conversion of transit buses into medical transport vehicles.

– Marissa Ramirez, B2 Communications