Image from 704 Playstreets, a collaboration between the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County Parks & Rec., and Partners for Parks
Kids (and adults too!) need play. Play helps build social skills, strength, and contributes to overall health. One way to help ensure that kids are getting enough quality play is to encourage them to play outside. The benefits of outdoor play include learning about nature, enhancing STEM skills, risk taking, among others. Another benefit is learning about our built environment and how people can come together to change the world around us. Community streets and sidewalks offer a great opportunity to combine all of these learning opportunities and enhance the quality of play through colorful and interactive murals.
Asphalt Art Project in Slovakia
Creating colorful artwork on streets and sidewalks can also be a way to encourage kids to walk or bike to school. Safe Routes to School initiatives across the country have installed murals at crosswalks and intersections to create a welcoming, safer environment for students walking to school.
Street Mural in Durham, NC by Artist Candy Carver
Need help getting started with an asphalt art project in your neighborhood? Would you like to make your student’s walk to school safer and more enjoyable?