With the Bremerton tunnel project nearing its completion in the coming year, city leaders are already looking to the future of its revitalized downtown core, which has become the centerpiece for the new Bremerton.

Because Pacific Avenue will serve as the primary link between Evergreen Park and the Harborside District, city leaders envision public art playing a prominent role in its future development.

Pacific Avenue is the main pedestrian corridor for downtown Bremerton and eventually will feature a plethora of stores and activities in the city’s urban core.

Bremerton’s Arts Commission is proposing to place a series of seven metal sculptures along Pacific Avenue to enhance the revitalized streetscape with a budget not to exceed $50,000.

The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Dec. 31, and it is possible the commission will select one to seven artists or a partnership to complete the projects.

The city of Bremerton is in the midst of dramatic change, with significant redevelopment in downtown. The redevelopment of the city’s core is supported by capital projects, which include the construction of new parks, an anticipated boardwalk extension and street improvements. One of the key projects is street improvements to Pacific Avenue, which will link the Harborside District (the Harborside Fountain Park and future Memorial Plaza) at the south end to an expanded Evergreen Park at the north end. As the primary pedestrian street, Pacific Avenue is the main public walking corridor in the city’s downtown area. This street is expected to be lined with a broad array of compatible uses, including retail, eating and drinking establishments, residential, office, cultural, educational and indoor recreation opportunities.

More information about the proposal can be found on the city’s Web site at www.ci.bremerton.wa.us/articles.php?id=1360.