Tamaqua resident Kyle Whitley says his town has a lot of heart.

He says he sees it firsthand because he volunteers in the community to make a difference.In April, the energetic young man won the 2016 Joseph M. Plasko Citizenship Award.But Whitley wants people in other regions, too, to know about the special qualities of the Tamaqua area.He thinks the best way to spread the word is to capitalize on the heart theme and let the resulting publicity and goodwill spark resurgence.The ambitious project, Tamaqua Has Heart, is up and running.It involves design, creation, sponsorship, display and ultimately, a public auction, of 10 unique heart sculptures measuring 39-by-42-by-20-inches. The works of art will be displayed in the downtown area between Memorial Day and Labor Day 2017.The project will involve children, adults, artists, sponsors, businesses and hopefully, the entire community.He says a similar idea paid dividends over the past 10 years in the town of Catskill, New York, and there's no reason why it won't pay dividends in Tamaqua, as well."I believe that Tamaqua can thrive as a tourist town," Whitley said."Tamaqua has amazing history, and the possibilities are endless in the downtown area."In a perfect world, the art-based project might even draw the attention of investors and entrepreneurs.The community already boasts the extremely active Tamaqua Community Art Center, Tamaqua Area Historical Society Museum, Owl Creek Reservoir recreation site and other attractions.Additional investment has resulted in a selection of restaurants offering Italian, casual gourmet, all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet and others - all located within walking distance.Added to that are antique and gift shops that provide more reasons to spend time downtown.Over the past 15 years, the town has seen significant investment by several world-class artists who've relocated in large commercial and church buildings for their studio, gallery space and living quarters.Additional space is available for similar adaptive reuse. The heart project might just draw attention to those opportunities for the benefit of additional artists seeking a suitable home.That's just one of many reasons why the Tamaqua Has Heart project is worthwhile and should be embraced by all.In a broader sense, Tamaqua has put in place enough attractions to serve as an anchor for a "Visit Tamaqua" educational and entertainment venue, and the heart project is an appropriate promotion to kick it off.By Donald R. Serfass |

dserfass@tnonline.com