The Knight Creative Communities Institute, in partnership with Leon County, recently unveiled three of its latest colorful crosswalks along Dempsey Mayo Road near W.T. Moore Elementary School and the Westminster Oaks retirement community.
“Citizens of all ages in this district and the community are going to benefit from the installation of these elevated, artful crosswalks,” said Leon County District 4 Commissioner Brian Welch of the project in his district.
Crosswalks to Classrooms is a project where high-use crosswalks near schools are painted in bright colors and eye-catching designs while engaging students and enhancing safety.
The three crosswalks now have elevated, thermoplastic material, in the colors green, yellow and white, an ode to the nearby elementary school.
“To see this installment of our Crosswalks to Classrooms campaign implemented puts a smile on our faces,” KCCI Executive Director Betsey Couch said n a news release.
The organization sponsors community projects using volunteers called community catalysts who want to make a local impact. The crosswalk project in front of W.T. Moore was funded by an AARP grant of $16,000.
There are currently 14 creative crosswalks in the initiative across the county, with seven located near school campuses. Campuses near crosswalks are Florida A&M University Developmental Research School, Kate Sullivan Elementary, Cobb Middle School, DeSoto Trail Elementary, Hartsfield Magnet School for International Studies and Sabal Palm Elementary.
Couch said the crosswalks have proven to slow down drivers and calm traffic. Research from Florida State University shows drivers are more likely to come to a complete stop at the artistic crosswalks.
“We can slow people down and get their attention as they’re coming through,” LCS Superintendent Rocky Hanna said.
To find out if a crosswalk near your school can be painted, send an email to betsy.couch@KCCITallahassee.com.
More:Asphalt art project helps improve safety near DeSoto Trail Elementary School
More:A splash of color added to two Tallahassee schools’ crosswalks
Alaijah Brown is with the Tallahassee Democrat and can be reached at ABrown1@gannett.com.
