Betsy Couch: Placemaking is critical in sustaining a vibrant Tallahassee

Local artists and volunteers will gather at Sabal Palm Elementary on Saturday, September 23, to paint colorful designs on pedestrian crosswalks. It’s part of the latest placemaking activity by the Knight Creative Communities Institute (KCCI) to improve Tallahassee’s economic vitality and grow our economy.

KCCI’s volunteers are spearheading the year-long “Crosswalks to Classrooms” program to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety all over town. One unique project, funded by a grant from AARP, uses asphalt art in crosswalks between W.T. Moore and Westminster Oaks. Following our standard practice of community collaboration, the school and Westminster Oaks residents collaborated with KCCI volunteers on the coming crosswalk designs.

KCCI placemaking projects are intended to enhance Tallahassee as a place. Groundbreaking research by urban studies theorist Richard Florida has demonstrated that a strong, unique sense of place is a key factor in attracting young professionals to a community. These young people in turn are crucial for the knowledge-based industries that foster economic growth. Placemaking reduces crime and builds safer cities. Public art is also central to success. Over the years, KCCI has paid more than $200,000 to local artists, an important metric because public art fosters a community’s sense of place and vitality.

Since its inception, KCCI has pursued that placemaking goal. Among our projects were jump-starting Gaines Street redevelopment and creating the Discovery playscape at Cascades Park. Others include:

·      2018: Created the iconic TLH letters on the Capital Cascades trail to provide a place for folks to share their Tallahassee pride. It is one of the most photographed and shared locations in Tallahassee.

·      2020: Led the creation of Florida’s first educational bicycle park at Sabal Palm Elementary. It converted under-used areas into three zones focused on bicycle safety—a creative bike space with colorful pavement markings that resemble real-life situations; an off-road biking experience; and a covered training area for younger kids.

·      2021: Spearheaded “Art of the Box” that enlisted local artists in designs for utility and traffic control boxes at street intersections. This project transforms graffiti-covered mechanical boxes into works of public art. It’s so popular that Leon County and City of Tallahassee each made it an on-going program.

·      2022: Created the “Fully Booked” project to promote literacy. Along trails at Pedrick Pond, Woodville, and Fort Braden, printed panels feature books that walkers can read on their treks. The books will rotate, and the panels direct readers to nearby libraries.

Community-based volunteer organizations like KCCI are important because they harness the ingenuity and energy of volunteers to make Tallahassee a better place. And they serve as a conduit through which local businesses can give back to the community that has helped them prosper.

We’re grateful for the support we’ve received from local businesses like TMH, VyStar Credit Union, NAI TALCOR, Taproot, and the collaboration from Leon County, City of Tallahassee, and School Board. But we need more support - from volunteers and local businesses - to expand our placemaking work.

Whether you consider a financial donation to help KCCI continue working toward its mission or volunteer your time at one of our upcoming projects, this is the perfect opportunity for you to get involved. Join us September 23 for the community crosswalk-painting at Sabal Palm Elementary and get to know KCCI and your Tallahassee community in whole new way.

Betsy Couch is executive director of the Knight Creative Communities Institute in Tallahassee, Florida.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Betsy Couch: Placemaking is critical in sustaining a vibrant Tallahassee