Denver, CO
Improving a thoroughfare with community space
The Project
The Westwood Linear Mercado and Community Space project transforms a triangular intersection into a community plaza on Morrison Road, the main thoroughfare that bisects the heart of Westwood, one of Denver’s oldest neighborhoods, recognized for its strong cultural identity and heritage of Latinx, Asian, and Native communities. The redesigned intersection includes two new crosswalks and 1,100 square feet of murals by local artist Ratha Sok painted in curb bulb-outs marked with plastic bollards to extend space for people walking and biking, to create community gathering areas, to slow traffic, and add new pedestrian crosswalks. The temporary installation will test and refine the concepts of an artistic community plaza to inform longer-term infrastructure improvements slated for Morrison Road as part of the “Linear Mercado” vision outlined in the Westwood Neighborhood Plan (2016) and Morrison Road Streetscape Implementation Plan (2017).
Use the slider to see the transformation
Best Practice Highlight: Catalyzing Neighboring Improvements
In addition to creating a new plaza, this project helped to inspire the activation of two businesses surrounding the mural location. One was a graffitied façade of a business that received a new mural over the course of this project period (total cost $5,850) and the other was a patio expansion which leveraged an additional $30,000 in funding for public/private improvements. These improvements were celebrated with multiple neighborhood events during and after project completion.
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.
