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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (April 13, 2026) — The West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority (WPB DDA) has partnered with app developers Hoverlay to launch an ambitious experience that brings Downtown West Palm Beach to life in a wholly new and digital way. DowntownWPB Unlocked is an interactive augmented reality (AR) walking tour that transforms everyday streets, establishments, landmarks, and public spaces into immersive encounters for visitors to uncover the secrets and surprises of downtown, all in the palm of their hand.

“Downtown West Palm Beach is more than a collection of buildings and streets — it’s a living story,” said DDA Executive Director Teneka James-Feaman. “DowntownWPB Unlocked invites everyone to experience that story in a new way by utilizing technology that we use every day to rediscover what makes our city center so vibrant.”

By downloading the free Hoverlay mobile app, anyone in Downtown West Palm Beach can follow guided routes and unlock multimedia content — including videos, soundscapes, animations, and narratives — that appear virtually on their smartphone while near the site. Each stop reveals a hidden layer of the city’s culture, history, art, and architecture through the lens of augmented reality.

“DowntownWPB Unlocked is about bringing people together and helping our community experience the heart of our city in a more meaningful way,” said Mayor Keith A. James. “It invites residents and visitors alike to connect with our culture, our history, and each other in ways that feel engaging, accessible, and uniquely West Palm Beach.”

The DDA identified more than 30 locations within the district boundaries to collaborate with local artists, cultural institutions, businesses, and other partners to uniquely enhance them as interactive activations on smartphones. Among the tour stops are civic landmarks, public art installations and spaces, as well as local retailers and restaurants.

How To Explore DowntownWPB Unlocked
1. Visit DowntownWPB.com/Unlocked, download the free Hoverlay app (available on iOS and Android)
2. Search for channel “DowntownWPB” to access the digital map of locations
3. Allow “Camera” and “Location Services” access on the smartphone and visit participating DowntownWPB Unlocked locations using the in-app map.
4. Click on the Hoverlay icon or hold up your phone at each stop and follow the brief instructions to activate the AR treatment
DowntownWPB Unlocked not only offers a new perspective on spaces both familiar and overlooked in Downtown WPB but also illustrates the DDA’s forward-thinking to reinvigorate tourism to downtown through technology.

“With DowntownWPB Unlocked, we’re merging placemaking and digital applications at a scale that no other downtown in Florida has yet achieved,” added James-Feaman. “Augmented reality is transforming how people experience urban spaces — turning sidewalks into storylines and landmarks into living media. By embracing AR as part of our city’s framework, we’re not only redefining tourism, but we’re also building a blueprint for how technology can deepen civic engagement and create economic value for the region.”

Learn more: DowntownWPB.com/Unlocked

Follow the experience: #DowntownWPBUnlocked
Click Here to download DowntownWPB Unlocked media assets

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About the Downtown Development Authority   
The West Palm Beach DDA is an independent taxing district created in 1967 by a special act of the Florida Legislature. Its mission is to promote and enhance a safe, vibrant Downtown for our residents, businesses and visitors through the strategic development of economic, social and cultural opportunities.  For more information about the DDA or Downtown West Palm Beach, please visit DowntownWPB.com or call the DDA at (561) 833-8873.

Executive Director’s Update: March At A Glance

At our March Board meeting, the Downtown Development Authority continued its focus on advancing the growth and vitality of Downtown West Palm Beach. The Board reviewed updates related to public safety, placemaking, and budget planning as we continue supporting the district’s evolving needs. 

Key updates from the meeting include:   

• Bike Detail and Policing Downtown: The West Palm Beach Police Department shared how bicycle patrol units continue to be especially effective in the DDA district due to the pedestrian-oriented nature of Clematis Street, the Waterfront, and surrounding corridors. Bicycle officers are able to move efficiently through dense crowds, reach areas not easily accessible by vehicle, and maintain a visible, approachable presence. To strengthen patrol capacity within the district, the department requested funding for three additional patrol bicycles and related equipment, which the DDA Board unanimously supported. Click Here for presentation.

• Public Realm & Placemaking Update: The DDA continues to advance placemaking as a key driver of downtown vibrancy and economic activity. Current programs, including Let’s Vibe, Que Bacano, and the Lantern Festival, are activating public spaces, increasing pedestrian engagement, and supporting local businesses. The DDA remains focused on delivering a balanced mix of recurring activations and larger-scale experiences that enhance the downtown experience. Click Here for presentation.

• Budget Update: As part of monitoring the current legislative session, staff shared updates on several proposed bills related to governance, oversight, and taxing authorities. While no final action has been taken, these proposals could affect how organizations fund and deliver important services such as Clean and Safe, placemaking, and economic development initiatives. We are continuing to track these developments closely, coordinate with partners and lobbyists, and keep the Board informed of any impacts on future budget planning. Click here for presentation. 

Residential Partner Meetings 

We continue meeting with residential partners to discuss district needs and DDA programs. Property managers who would like to connect can reach me at [email protected].

PHOTO BY CAPEHART

Alexander Esposito describes himself as an “energetic and naturally curious person with a ‘what’s next?’ mentality.” He believes these traits have served him well, both professionally and personally. With the former, his interest in the ever-evolving worlds of technology and transportation led him to co-found Circuit, an on-demand microtransit service, back when he was still living in Hampton, New York in the early 2010s. As the business grew, he and his business partner recognized that South Florida — and specifically Downtown West Palm Beach — would be the perfect area to supercharge its expansion. The Downtown Development Authority worked with Circuit on its first pilot program, helping ensure the company would have the best possible chance to succeed. Esposito moved here fulltime in 2014 and recalls “I immediately fell in love with the area.” And a few years after becoming a South Floridian, Esposito also fell in love with his now-wife Kenzie Snyder, whom he was introduced to by mutual friends while she was still living in New York. “Convincing Kenzie she’d love living in our tropical paradise was a pretty easy sell,” he says.

What do you like the most about seeing in Downtown West Palm Beach? 

I grew up in a small, seasonal beach town and then lived in the middle of New York City — and I always tell people Downtown West Palm Beach offers the best of both worlds. It has that fast-paced energy and worldclass accessibility of a big city, but with a tight-knit community and outdoor soul of a beach town. And you can’t beat the weather! Or the convenience. I can walk out my front door and be at the Brightline station in five minutes. Getting to practice car-free behavior is a real treat and something you can do in Downtown West Palm Beach.

What do you do for fun in Downtown West Palm Beach? 

We are big fans of eating out. We hit the staples like Bradley’s, FOG and Grease, but we love that there are constantly new places opening up — spots like Adrienne’s, Waxin’s, Eatlay, and others. There’s just so much to do here. I’m a regular at the GreenMarket, of course. It really feels like one continuous experience walking down Clematis Street, with cool vendors everywhere, from food to things like vintage magazines and antique golf clubs at the West Palm Beach Antique & Flea Market. Between walking our dog Chacha along Flagler Drive and events like Clematis by Night or the Palm Tree Music Festival, there is always stuff going on and we can usually walk to all of it.

How was Downtown West Palm Beach evolved over the years? 

When I first arrived in 2014, Downtown felt like two separate pockets: the waterfront and CityPlace. Today, those gaps have been filled in and the Downtown District is not only interconnected, but it’s also continuously expanding. And our instincts about Downtown West Palm Beach being the ideal place to grow Circuit turned out to be right because the area has become a premier test bed for mobility innovation. Last summer, we even ran an autonomous vehicle pilot with Related Ross, Guident Corp, and Auve Tech. Downtown West Palm Beach isn’t just growing and evolving, but it’s a business-friendly environment that encourages innovation and progress.