New York City has been following the lead of some of the most livable cities in the world with new best practice trials, though arguably none is more enjoyable than the example in this Streetfilm, where the Department of Transportation has worked with the community to transform a city street by painting it beautiful, bright colors. Based on Intersection Repair in Portland, OR, this is a thoughtful, engaging way to calm traffic and demarcate a school zone with patterns and colors that reflect the whims of children.
As Streetfilms' Clarence Eckerson explains:
In what is being called the first ever of its kind in New York City, Livable Streets Education teamed up with Community Roots Charter School and Public School 67 and got a helping hand from New York Caresto paint a magnificent street mural on St. Edwards Street in FortGreene, Brooklyn. The project, which was designed by art students, wasdone with the blessing of NYC Department of Transportationunder their new Urban Art Program initiative. These short term, artprojects on city assets under their purview are now referred to as "Arterventions" by the DOT.
I wonder if DPW's Ed Reiskin is feeling sufficiently emboldened by the success of the trial 17th Street Plaza to facilitate a couple of these amazing street treatments? I'm sure DPW could enlist Mona Caron and her able team. Here's to hoping...
If you haven't seen the original Streetfilm on Intersection Repair from Portland, be sure to watch after the jump.