The City of Englewood seeks to expand its gallery of creativity where overlooked urban elements, including crosswalks and signal wrap traffic boxes, have been transformed into colorful and unique public art installations.
Stemming from a program initially launched in 2019, the city once again invites artists to submit their ideas by July 1 for an initiative dedicated to weaving art into the fabric of everyday life.
“The creative crosswalk and signal wrap program is one that supports public art across the City of Englewood, which in turn supports the city’s goals related to placemaking, economic development, safety and community development,” city communications director Chris Harguth said. “Through the program, local artists may submit renderings for creative crosswalks or signal wraps that fit with the history and feel of neighborhoods across the city. “
Harguth said the city is looking for “ideas that fit with the city’s history and articulated strategic plan and community engagement goals.”
The number of artists selected will be based on the number of requests received and the amount of funding available. Harguth said while the deadline for applications is July 1, it could be extended based on funding.
In addition to beautifying the city and connecting art and community, Harguth said these installations also help with safety.
“A survey conducted by Bloomberg Philanthropies as part of their Asphalt Art initiative conducted in 2022 found that, in their sample size, the rate of car crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists decreased by 50% and the rate of drivers yielding to pedestrians increased by 27%,” Harguth said. “Public art is a key part of placemaking initiatives, which are designed to create spaces that people want to live in and visit and have a sense of community.”
Those selected will receive a $500 stipend to cover the cost of installation.
“After artists are selected, the artist will submit approved drawings to the city, who will work with a vendor to develop the signal wraps and crosswalks and prepare them for installation,” Harguth said.
He said any signal boxes without existing wraps are eligible for the program but crosswalk eligibility is based on design standards that were approved in 2019.
The design criteria requires the art to be at a location where there is already a marked crosswalk, contain two white transverse lines with reflectivity to comply with minimum crosswalk standards, not contain white, yellow, or red in a way that could be confused as traffic control devices, not contain any advertising and not contain shapes that could be confused with a traffic control device.
“We hope that creative crosswalks and signal wraps will enhance the placemaking of the city and continue to make Englewood a place where people want to live, eat, shop and play,” Harguth said.
For more information on the program visit bit.ly/crosswalk-art.