Minneapolis, MN
Providing safer, more joyful routes to school
The Project
South-Folwell Safe Routes to School is a long-term traffic-calming project planned for a neighborhood street in south Minneapolis. Minneapolis Public Works planners sought to install temporary treatments ahead of the permanent project to test design concepts and bring traffic-calming to the route in the interim. The addition of asphalt art to these treatments was an opportunity to increase their effectiveness, engage directly with the community and add joyful placemaking to the project route. Public Works partnered with Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs to select artists who then worked with Minneapolis Public Schools art teachers and students to design and install murals within temporary curb extensions and a median. Events including an artist presentation, community paint night and a project unveiling brought together students, parents, surrounding residents and project team members to celebrate and learn more about the artwork and traffic-calming treatments.
Use the slider to see the transformation
Best Practice Highlight: Building Community through Youth Engagement
Minneapolis Public Works’ Safe Routes to School traffic-calming projects focus on community engagement, especially with schools, students, and parents. Their public art process allows for artists to build community by collaborating with students to develop murals. For this project, lead artists Constanza Caballo and Marco Aguero, both immigrants and native Spanish speakers, share a background with many students in the diverse project area. Their ability to communicate directly with students and acknowledge shared cultural experiences brought the students and artists together. Working with students and their art teachers during the regular school day ensured maximum participation, and classroom activities informed the themes, design, and imagery of the murals. Ultimately, the community felt deeply connected to the final works that reflected the students’ cultures and ideas.
The artists installed murals during school hours with student assistance and held volunteer community paint evenings to engage the neighborhood. They developed a paint-by-numbers system that allowed students and volunteers to participate in short shifts, accommodating class schedules and busy schedules.
We have had an incredible experience working with the students from South High and Folwell Elementary on the asphalt mural project. Watching them come together to bring this project to life has been a rewarding journey, showcasing the power of community and collaboration.
Marco Aguero, Artist
Press
New Street Murals. (Longfellow Nokomis Messenger, June 26, 2024)
New Asphalt Murals In Minneapolis Aim To Boost Pedestrian Safety Near Schools. (Hooldine Minneapolis, June 22, 2024)
Minneapolis Celebrates New Safe Routes To School Mural Project In South Folwell Neighborhood. (Hooline Minneapolis, June 11, 2024)
Bria Fast On The South-Folwell Safe Routes To School Project. (Minneapolis Piecycle Club, June 6, 2024)
Minneapolis School Intersection Asphalt Art Projects An Effort To Improve Pedestrian Safety. (Fox 9 KMSP, November 20, 2023)
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.
