Pittsburgh, PA
Empowering a community to improve their streets
The Project
Friendship Community Group and the City of Pittsburgh partnered to redesign a five-way intersection adjacent to Baum Grove, a parklet that is frequently used for community events. By extending the sidewalks, adding crosswalks, , and adjusting the placement of stop signs, the team transformed the challenging intersection a pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly space. The reclaimed asphalt also expanded the square footage of the parklet, allowing more space for events. Through community design workshops, residents came together to influence the artistic design and structural layout of the project.
- The rate of drivers speeding decreased by 40%.
- The rate of drivers coming to a full stop at the stop bar increased by 25%.
- The rate of drivers not yielding to pedestrians with the right of way decreased by 57%.
- Potentially dangerous conflicts between drivers and pedestrians crossing the street decreased by 61%.
“The five-way intersection directly in front of our community parklet was breathtaking to cross because of the confusing set-up. Now we have a safer, redesigned intersection and a breathtaking asphalt mural with art that reflects our architecture heritage and natural elements.”
Sara DeLucia, President, Friendship Community Group
Use the slider to see the transformation
Best Practice Highlight: Community-Led Project
The redesign of the Baum Grove intersection was advocated for, led, and installed by community members. Identified by residents as a confusing and unsafe intersection for both pedestrians and motorists, a safety redesign became a priority for the Friendship Community Group. Community design workshops were held virtually and in person to ensure the installation was created by and for the surrounding neighborhood. Residents actively participated in every aspect of the project, including the development of the safety redesign, selection of the artists, development of the mural design, and physical installation of the mural in a volunteer painting weekend.
Workshop sketches by Friendship residents
Final engineering drawing with artists’ design
Press
Friendship Intersection Closed While Artists Install Asphalt Art (CBS Pittsburgh, August 8. 2021)
Murals decorate intersection in Pittsburgh’s Friendship neighborhood (WTAE 4, August 8, 2021)
Group installs asphalt art in Pittsburgh neighborhood (WPXI-11, August 7, 2021)
CompletioInterview: Asphalt Art Project, Sara DeLucia (Saturday Light Brigade Radio, August 7, 2021)
Friendship intersection to close this weekend for street art mural painting (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 6, 2021)
For inspiration and tips for the creation of art on roadways and public places, download the Bloomberg Associates Asphalt Art Guide which features successful plaza and roadway art activations around the world, as well as key steps for developing such projects.
