Intersection Repair refers to the painting of murals in neighborhood intersections by neighborhood residents, a concept pioneered by City Repair[1],a Portland, Oregon, nonprofit organization.  City Repair's projects have shown that painting a mural on the pavement of a public square or intersection encourages neighbors to gather in these locations, and drivers to slow down to admire the artwork.  This is a unique and innovative form of placemaking , a concept pioneered by Fred Kent of the Project for Public Spaces . 

The projects act as a catalyst for other neighborhood improvements and a greater sense of neighborhood cohesion.  For example, following one installation, a local artist was inspired to put up small art installations throughout the community. Like David Engwicht’s concept of the mental speed bump or Hans Monderman ’s shared space , intersection repair creates a better balance between pedestrians and vehicles, as it acts as a form of traffic calming without relying on expensive engineering devices typically used to force cars to slow down.  (See also livable streets ).

How did Intersection Repair start?

According to a 2007 StreetFilms[3] post,

When City Repair first attempted some of these events many years ago, the Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT) did not sancation it. Undaunted, communities went ahead and did them anyway! Thankfully, today times have changed: PDOT has an official liasion to City Repair who helps coordinate permitting and street closures and also oversees some of the design standards. (emphasis in original).

The concept has spread to other cities.  For example, Streetswiki host, Livable Streets Initiative, approached a Brooklyn, New York, school to organize the schoolchildren to paint a design on the busy, dangerous street in front of the school.  The result is a beautiful street that is now safer for the kids to cross, all captured in a Streetfilm[4].

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ALSO ON THE LIVABLE STREETS NETWORK

REFERENCES

Each source is referred to by the same number every time it is cited. Please keep citation style consistent.

[1] City Repair website

[2] StreetsFilms: Intersection Repair. May 31, 2007.

[3] Streetfilms: Photos: Village Building Convergence - Intersection Repair. May 22, 2007.

[4] Streetfilms: Brooklyn Students Paint the Pavement. May 18, 2009.

PICTURE REFERENCES

Pictures are cited in the order they appear above. Please keep citation style consistent.

[1] Portland Oregon Intersection Repair Project.  Photo by Clarence Ekerson via Streetfilms.

[2] Portland Oregon Intersection Repair Project.  Photo by Clarence Ekerson via Streetfilms.

FURTHER READING