26 U.S. Cities to Turn Asphalt Roads into Works of Art

Bloomberg Philanthropies has awarded grants to 26 U.S. cities as part of its 2022 Asphalt Art Initiative.

The Asphalt Art Initiative grant program is designed to fund visual art interventions on roadways, pedestrian spaces, and public infrastructure in U.S. cities with the goal of improving street and pedestrian safety, revitalizing and activating underutilized public space, and promoting collaboration and civic engagement in local communities.

Each city will be awarded up to $25,000 to install their projects in 2022-23, the organization says.

Bloomberg Philanthropies has awarded 26 U.S. cities grants to help transform streets and public spaces through its Asphalt Art Initiative.

In 10 of the cities, the Asphalt Art Initiative will work on enhancing pedestrian and cyclist safety. These cities include Atlanta; Baltimore; Houston; Kansas City, Missouri; Long Beach, California; Memphis, Tennessee; San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Louis; Tuscon, Arizona; and Wilmington, Delaware.

Seven of the cities aim to improve pedestrian plazas and public spaces, including Birmingham, Alabama; Denver; Detroit; Fairbanks, Alaska; Newark, New Jersey; Providence, Rhode Island; and Syracuse, New York.

Nine of the cities will add murals to intersections and crosswalks, including Billings, Montana; Chicago; East Providence, Rhode Island; Huntington, West Virginia; Kodiak, Arkansas; New Brunswick, New Jersey; Niagara Falls, New York; Starkville, Mississippi; and Tallahassee, Florida.

“Asphalt art projects help cities reclaim public spaces, make them brighter and safer and build community–all-important goals, especially amid the continuing hardships of the pandemic,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and a former New York City mayor, said in a statement. “Cities that tap into the power of public art bring new life and energy to city streets, inspiring residents and fostering a shared spirit of neighborhood pride. There can be real civic strength in public art, and this program helps cities capitalize on it.”

A previous Asphalt Art Initiative project in Kansas City, Missouri, reduced vehicle speeds by 45 percent, shortened pedestrian crossing distances by half, and reduced noise levels by 10 to 12 decibels, according to survey data from the city.

Bloomberg Philanthropies supported 16 Asphalt Art Initiative projects in 2020-2021, which you can see in the below pictures.

The bright and playful mural in Reno, titled “Locomotion,” was designed to reflect features of northern Nevada.

Friendship Community Group and the City of Pittsburgh partnered to redesign a five-way intersection adjacent to Baum Grove, a parklet that is frequently used for community events

The Club Crossing project in Durham, North Carolina, aimed to create a fun and welcoming street environment for elementary school students, families, and residents to cross to the Club Boulevard Elementary School, Northgate Park, and the Ellerbe Creek Trail.

The City of Reno plans to maintain its mural for 3 years and then assess whether it needs to be repainted.

The City of Columbus, Indiana, installed a two-part asphalt mural along 16th Street at the intersections of Home Avenue and Union Street, near a residential neighborhood and budding commercial node.

Twenty-one volunteers used 52 gallons of paint over the course of 25 hours to install an asphalt mural in Columbus, Indiana.

Local community nonprofit Glass House Collective partnered with the Chattanooga Department of Transportation and Chattanooga Design Studio to create a block-long asphalt mural.

Local artist Mensah Bey oversaw a team of 55 community volunteers and police officers to paint a 100-foot mural in the Norview neighborhood of Norfolk, Virginia.

The City of Saginaw installed murals at three intersections along Court Street, a major downtown corridor running through the Old Town neighborhood of Saginaw.

This butterfly mural by Sound Mind Creative graces the streets of Asheville, North Carolina.

Four artists worked with city engineers to create a new design for an intersection of Westport Road in Kansas City. Photos courtesy of Bloomberg Philanthropies.