Remember back in 2018 when the South Slope’s Coxe Ave . was transformed into a pedestrian + bike-friendly streetscape with a butterfly mural ? We’re about to see another “tactical urbanism” project just like that one kick off on Thurs., May 20, at the intersection of West Asheville’s Westwood Pl. and Waynesville Ave.
The 3-day installation will be led by the Asheville Street Tweaks team and aims to improve neighborhood and pedestrian safety through the addition of a traffic circle + visual street art from Leslie Rosenberg .
Dig into the details of this cool new project below.
But first, what the heck is tactical urbanism?
Simply put, it’s the practice of executing smaller-scale, cheaper projects with a quick turnaround in order to figure out the best strategies for developing widespread and long-lasting improvements in a community.
The $150,000 Coxe Ave. project — funded entirely by the Street Tweaks Partnership — was Asheville’s first foray into this approach, and according to the project’s follow-up report , it achieved considerable success. The installation of new signage, crosswalks, widened pedestrian paths, a temporary mural + other features managed to reduce traffic speeds by 28.3% while providing a safer overall experience for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Why this location?
TLDR ; it’s unsafe. This high-traffic intersection allows cars to turn at high speeds while crossing the paths of pedestrians + bicyclists. The lack of crosswalks and safety markings, paired with the street’s wideness, poses a considerable danger to pedestrians.
What’s the inspiration behind the art design?
Resident artist Leslie Rosenberg, who specializes in place-based creations, will include goldfinch, blue bottles + milkweed in her mural as an ode to Christopher’s Garden , an upcycled bottle garden that formerly occupied the space. After asking for the public’s input about their experiences there, she learned that the bottle garden held a special place in people’s hearts and wanted to commemorate it.
Interested in getting involved in this project? The Street Tweaks Team is looking for folks to help paint in 2-hour shifts on Sat., May 22 . Simply fill out this volunteer form .
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