Pedestrian safety meets neighbourhood pride

On an unusually warm and sunny October afternoon, the students and neighbours of Wilson Avenue Public School came together to celebrate neighbourhood pride with a crosswalk painting party at the intersection in front of their school.

Fueled by pizza and ice cream, students and neighbourhood volunteers painted bright colours over an outline of nature scenes. The young children were surprised when they were handed a paintbrush and told to paint right on the street!

Students at the elementary school voted for their favourite design, choosing from submissions made by high school art students from nearby Eastwood Collegiate Institute. Lauren Reub was honoured to be chosen as the winner.

“This is a great way to build a sense of community and have people working together for a common purpose,” said Principal Elizabeth Martz. This project has assisted our students in learning about local contribution and shared ownership in making a positive impact in their wonderful neighbourhood.”

Painted crosswalks assist with traffic calming, encouraging drivers to be more aware and alert near pedestrian crossings. They also provide a boost to neighbourhood pride for those involved in bringing a creative vision to life right on their street.

If you want to paint a crosswalk in your ‘hood, check out our Resident-led Traffic Calming Guide for ideas on how to get started.

Back to Ideas and Inspiration