Coming to Clearwater’s Coachman Park: The ‘World’s Largest Rubber Duck’

“What the duck?”That’s the question Clearwater residents and tourists will be asking in January as a gargantuan inflatable creature — one that stands taller than many downtown buildings — floats toward the city’s waterfront, promising to challenge public perception and ignite debate.The “World’s Largest Rubber Duck,” an art installation of immense proportions and undeniable kitsch, is confirmed to serve as the central fixture for a 17-day festival at Coachman Park. The structure, affectionately dubbed “Mama Duck,” is scheduled to be on display Jan. 10-26, after the Downtown Development Board voted unanimously Nov. 3 to fund it.This is no ordinary bath toy: The structure stands 61 feet high, equivalent to six stories, and measures 64 feet wide and 74 feet long. Its mission, according to its website, is to bring “love and joy to the globe.”Arts and cultural affairs manager Amber Brice outlined the exhibit’s strategic purpose, acknowledging its controversial nature while banking on its inevitable magnetism.“Some people won’t get it. Some people will think it’s funny, some people will think it’s stupid, but they will be talking about the duck,” Brice said.City Council member Ryan Cotton echoed the sentiment, noting, “I think that this is unique, fun, even the haters, like you pointed out, are going to be talking about it, so I think when you have that type of buzz, people are going to want to see the giant six-story duck, right?”The overall production and event budget for the installation and associated “Duck Days” activities totals $59,155. About $30,000 in Downtown Development Board funds were sought, but after staff review, the board approved funding not to exceed $21,000 to cover direct production costs and city fees. Event organizers anticipate generating $17,000 in total income from external revenue streams to offset the overall cost.During the funding discussion, council member Mike Mannino highlighted a key fiscal data point: the project’s internal marketing budget. “It’s only $1,500 (for marketing and advertising), right? That’s a good thing and it’s appreciated because we see some events that get a couple thousand people and they put $30,000 to $40,000 in a marketing budget,” Mannino said.Council member David Allbritton stressed the necessity of promotional efforts, commenting that for any event of this scale, “the most important part of this is getting the word out.”The massive inflatable will serve as the backdrop for seven distinct public events over the 17-day period. With the exception of participation in the Duck Dash 5K, all events are free to the public.The kickoff is a preliminary, paid exclusive photo opportunity on Jan. 9, aimed primarily at Jeep owners. This is followed immediately by the first major public draw on Jan. 10, the established Market Marie, which will feature vendor participation and shopping opportunities. The next morning, Jan. 11, the Duck Dash 5K fun run is scheduled, which will promote health and wellness in a family-friendly atmosphere.The central celebration, the Rubber Ducky’s Birthday Bash, is set for Jan. 17 to mark National Rubber Duck Day. This event will feature confirmed concerts by popular children’s entertainers Jack Hartmann, noted for his extensive social media following of 5 million on YouTube, and Mr. Brad. Attendees can expect bounce houses, face painting and children’s crafts.For additional community engagement, Rubber Duck Races will also be organized with local schools or scout troops, allowing those organizations to retain all proceeds. A midweek event, Scenes on the Green, on Jan. 23, is planned as a duck-themed movie night that will feature films such as “The Mighty Ducks” or “DuckTales: The Movie.”The grand finale is the Duck ‘n’ Drive Jeep Invasion on Jan. 24, designed to leverage the cultural bond of the Jeep community. This festival will include vehicle displays, live music, axe throwing and a “Touch-a-Jeep” area, with the event footprint extending into the 500 block of Cleveland Street.Council member Lina Teixeira praised the thoughtfulness and organization of the event.“This is a great example of strategic, well thought-out planning, from involving the Jeeps with their affinity and their history with rubber ducks to actually timing it perfectly in conjunction for the birthday bash,” she said.The primary purpose of the exhibition, Brice confirmed, is to drive regional attendance.“Our other main goal is to get people downtown and to bring people from not even all over Clearwater, but neighboring counties. And this is something unique enough that I think will do that,” Brice said.The massive structure itself will be illuminated nightly, guaranteeing visibility from the Memorial Causeway Bridge and surrounding boating areas.Mayor Bruce Rector hailed the project’s appeal, saying, “It looks like a great idea and unique thing, and I think that’s what we want to be known for, Coachman Park, you know, different unique things, and this certainly is unique.”To ensure the safety of the public and the installation, the 61-foot-high inflatable will be secured within a perimeter controlled by 28 barricades throughout its duration. The installation period concludes immediately after its final day on Jan. 26.

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