Street art can be a powerful tool to slow traffic and improve safety in neighborhoods. By incorporating eye-catching murals or other artistic elements into streetscapes, we can naturally encourage drivers to slow down and pay more attention. This can significantly reduce the risks of accidents, especially for pedestrians and cyclists. Beyond safety, street art transforms ordinary streets into vibrant public spaces, encouraging people to walk, bike, and spend time outdoors. This increased foot traffic can foster a stronger sense of community and make neighborhoods more livable.
Requirements for Street Murals
Before you begin planning your mural, please review the following criteria.
To ensure your proposed location is suitable, it must meet the following criteria.
The location must be:
- A residential road
- A location that the neighborhood would like to be more pedestrian-friendly
- If an intersection, it must be a 4-way intersection (or fewer) with no existing traffic calming infrastructure (no traffic circles, chicanes, etc.)
The location cannot be:
- Near train tracks
- In a school zone
- In an industrial area
- In front of a fire station
- Within 1 block of an arterial street
- On a street that needs significant repairs (e.g., lots of potholes or broken asphalt)
Street murals become a vital part of your neighborhood’s identity and aesthetic, so it’s important to collaborate with your neighbors on the design. The City’s Arts Commission and the Mayor need to review and approve the concept and the final art design prior to installation.
Designs that work well:
- Exhibit lots of contrast with the road surface
- Use large, simple shapes as opposed to many small ones with lots of fine detail
- Engage the community to gather ideas and involve each other in the painting process
- Can include natural elements such as plants, animals, and landscapes
- May portray abstract and geometric patterns
Design restrictions:
- Speech and text
- Copyrighted material
- Political or religious symbols
- Depiction of activities or products that aren’t available to all ages
- Painted games or sports courts
- Designs that mimic traffic control devices (e.g., arrows, chevrons, crosswalks)
- Colors used for traditional roadways (e.g., yellow used for striping, stop sign red, ADA blue, bike lane green)
Painting roadways and other public right-of-way requires traffic-grade paint with a special additive for slip resistance. You can purchase this type of paint from most paint suppliers or online. City Staff will share additional details regarding paint requirements and best practices to ensure a successful project once you begin the process to get your Street Mural approved.
Painting tips:
- We recommend painting intersections during the summer months.
- Before painting, clear the street thoroughly using a steel-bristle broom and leaf blower to remove all debris.
- Allow the paint to dry for at least four hours.
Steps to Get Your Street Mural Approved
Once you decide on a suitable location and conceptual design, we need to review and approve your plans before proceeding with the mural. The approval process involves several stages and includes reviews by various City departments, advisory boards, and commissions.
