Louisville, Kentucky
Coloring the way to safer crossings in Parkland
The Project
Historically a high-speed thoroughfare, South 28th Street lacked safe access to the Parkland Business District that offers a rich concentration of amenities, including a market, childcare centers, restaurants, a library, a community garden, and the newly completed Parkland Plaza. While the neighborhood continues to heal from historic disinvestment, pedestrian safety remains a challenge. Now, Louisville’s first-ever street mural project addresses these historical challenges with colorful public art, thermoplastic crosswalks, and curb extensions that increase visibility for motorists and create safer pathways for pedestrians and cyclists.
Local artists installed designs at seven intersections, guided by a color palette shaped through community input. Residents engaged in local events provided feedback on colors, themes, and their perceptions of safety along South 28th Street, ensuring the project reflected the neighborhood’s identity while improving accessibility for all.
Use the sliders to see the transformation
“The uniquely designed pathways completed through the Parkland Asphalt Art Project are culturally inviting to all who will experience the revival of the 28th Street corridor.”
Tamika DeWalt, Board of Directors, Parkland Business Development Association
Press
Asphalt Art Project Brings Color, Increases Safety In Louisville’s Parkland Neighborhood (WDRB, December 16, 2024)
Parkland Asphalt Art Project Completed, Creating More Vibrant And Safer Streets (Louisvilleky.gov, December 12, 2024)
Louisville’s First Street Mural, Painted Crosswalks Installed In Parkland Neighborhood (Courier-Journal, October 24, 2024)
Reducing Car Accidents Through Public Art (Spectrum News 1, September 22, 2024)
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.
