Local artist Jay Giroux of the READ Movement recently teamed up with the City of Tampa to create colorful, whimsical murals outside Edison Elementary School to help inspire kids walking to school, while supporting the city’s Vision Zero mission.
Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries by increasing safety on the streets. “It helps people think about streets in a different way,” said Danni Jorgensen, chief transportation planning engineer for the City of Tampa. “People walk and bike, so they re-envision and reimagine the streets.”
Three additional projects are scheduled before the end of the year.
The mural is designed to look like book spines selected by children. Before the mural was painted, the city’s mobility team designed and constructed a missing sidewalk segment to improve pedestrian safety. Edison Elementary is located on East Curtis Street.
“In 2020, the City is going to complete a Vision Zero Action Plan, which will formalize our goals and objectives for achieving Vision Zero,” the City announced in a press release. “Key focus areas will include special focus on vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, etc.), schools, speeding, speed management, and more.”
“I think generally, everyone loves these projects,” Jorgensen said. “It’s been a great response. The schools, for sure, love them. Not only is it attractive and enhances safety but it ties back to reading.”
