Ashley Street In Downtown Tampa Gets Artist's Touch

TAMPA, FL — Keeping with the Vision Zero theme of "Paint Saves Lives," the Tampa Downtown Partnership and the city of Tampa are building on recent successful efforts to improve safety as well as aesthetics by commissioning mural work on North Ashley Drive in Tampa's Downtown.

Over the weekend, local artist Meaghan Farrell Scalise, with Traditional and Digital Arts (Tada!), is starting the Vision Zero project with a mural titled "Reflection Current," including 40 touchpoints on the ground that will be painted with a cohesive design.

"The bright colors signify energy in movement, engaging one's consciousness to the twists and turns in life's ever-moving current, along with connectivity to each other," Scalise said.

The project will also include decorative planters at each intersection and flexible delineator posts to enhance pedestrian safety.

Ashley Drive was chosen as the location for this project due to its proximity to the Interstate 275 off-ramp and prominent features such as museums, parks, the Tampa Riverwalk and the "Stay Curious" mural on the William F. Poe Garage.

"As an organization and community partner, we are committed to Vision Zero. We know the sense of place and meaning public art brings to our neighborhoods. Now we are utilizing it to make one of our downtown's key corridors safer as well", said Lynda Remund, president and CEO of the Tampa Downtown Partnership.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor announced the City of Tampa's commitment to Vision Zero in October at the National Safe Routes to Schools Conference. Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all.

"Creating safer streets for all is one of the top priorities for Transforming Tampa's Tomorrow," Castor said. "Street murals offer many benefits, including calming traffic, increasing pedestrian visibility, and adding a touch of beauty to our neighborhood streets. We are very excited to have this new artwork along one of our downtown corridors. We are grateful for another opportunity to showcase local artists while enhancing street safety as a Vision Zero City. We look forward to many more collaborative projects with the Tampa Downtown Partnership."

"As soon as drivers enter downtown, we want them to have visual cues they have entered a vibrant urban core. Pedestrians will have more space, less crossing distance, and drivers should slow down," said Karen Kress, director of transportation and planning at the Tampa Downtown Partnership.

Work on the project is expected to take several days to complete. This project is funded by the Tampa Downtown Partnership with support from the City of Tampa.

The Tampa Downtown Partnership is a private, membership-based not-for-profit comprised of companies, organizations and individuals with a common goal of advancing Tampa's downtown.

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