Crosswalk, Art, or Both?

Image credit: NFRMPO Staff

Okay, you probably guessed it. It's both!

As part of a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Project near Downtown Loveland in 2019, the City's Public Works Department installed unique crosswalks leading to Bill Reed Middle School. Loveland traded the traditional white, rectangle-shaped markings (sometimes referred to as "zebra stripes" or "piano keys") for a paintbrush shape with colorful accents. The intersections of Fourth Street and Garfield, Grant, and Harrison Avenues each contain five white paintbrushes, with one dripping colored paint. These new features were accompanied by improved curb ramps and sidewalks, curb extensions (bulb-outs), concrete bollards, additional signage for motorists, and stormwater drainage improvements. Made possible by SRTS grant funding through the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), these elements all contribute to a safer environment for children traveling by foot or bike to and from the middle school by improving mobility, slowing vehicles, and encouraging more attentive driving. The artistic crosswalks were included in the project due to Bill Reed's status as part of Thompson School District's Loveland Integrated School of the Arts (LISA) program. The additional funding necessary for the crosswalks came from Loveland's One Percent for the Arts program. Additional artistic elements will be coming to these same intersections soon, so stay tuned.

Learn more from the Loveland Reporter-Herald.