West Palm Beach Launches Immersive Augmented Reality Downtown Tour

The DowntownWPB Unlocked app brings the city's culture, history, and landmarks to life through interactive AR experiences.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 6:59pm

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A highly stylized, geometric illustration in the Art Deco Monumentalist style, featuring sweeping architectural forms and gradients of color that evoke the grand scale and romance of urban exploration through augmented reality technology.The DowntownWPB Unlocked AR tour invites visitors to rediscover West Palm Beach's vibrant urban landscape through an immersive digital lens.West Palm Beach Today

The West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority has partnered with app developer Hoverlay to launch DowntownWPB Unlocked, an interactive augmented reality (AR) walking tour that transforms downtown streets, establishments, landmarks, and public spaces into immersive digital experiences. By downloading the free Hoverlay mobile app, visitors can follow guided routes and unlock multimedia content like videos, soundscapes, animations, and narratives that appear virtually on their smartphones.

Why it matters

DowntownWPB Unlocked is part of the DDA's forward-thinking strategy to reinvigorate tourism and deepen civic engagement in downtown West Palm Beach through innovative technology. The AR tour allows residents and visitors to experience the city's culture, history, art, and architecture in a more meaningful and accessible way, blending placemaking with digital applications.

The details

The DDA identified over 30 locations within the downtown district to collaborate with local artists, cultural institutions, businesses, and other partners to create unique AR activations. These include civic landmarks, public art installations, local retailers, and restaurants. Users simply need to download the free Hoverlay app, search for the "DowntownWPB" channel, and visit the participating locations to trigger the AR content on their smartphones.

  • The DowntownWPB Unlocked AR tour launched on April 13, 2026.

The players

West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority (WPB DDA)

An independent taxing district created in 1967 by the Florida Legislature to promote and enhance a safe, vibrant downtown for residents, businesses, and visitors through strategic economic, social, and cultural development.

Hoverlay

The app development company that partnered with the WPB DDA to create the DowntownWPB Unlocked AR tour.

Teneka James-Feaman

The Executive Director of the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority.

Keith A. James

The Mayor of West Palm Beach.

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What they’re saying

“Downtown West Palm Beach is more than a collection of buildings and streets — it's a living story. 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.”

— Teneka James-Feaman, Executive Director, West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority

“DowntownWPB Unlocked is about bringing people together and helping our community experience the heart of our city in a more meaningful way. 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.”

— Keith A. James, Mayor of West Palm Beach

What’s next

The DowntownWPB Unlocked AR tour is now available for residents and visitors to download and explore downtown West Palm Beach through the free Hoverlay mobile app.

The takeaway

By embracing augmented reality technology, West Palm Beach's Downtown Development Authority is redefining the urban tourism experience and creating new ways for the community to engage with the city's culture, history, and landmarks in a more immersive and accessible manner.