Life is about to get more colorful in one Tucson neighborhood thanks to a grant that seeks to infuse learning and play into everyday spaces across the country.
Living Streets Alliance was named one of 50 winners of the KaBoom! Play Everywhere Challenge, being awarded $20,000 to enhance a two-block stretch in front of Pueblo Gardens PreK-8 School.
By mid-December, Menor Stravenue between Plumer and Amigo avenues will be home to dozens of shade trees, murals, games painted along sidewalks, colorful crosswalks and play stations made from re-purposed materials.
Here's a sneak peek:
Why it's needed
Pueblo Gardens PreK-8 is unique in that there are no school buses that serve it, said Vanessa Cascio, a Living Streets Alliance lead community liaison.
“Seventy-five percent of their enrollment is within a mile of the school, so that means there are already a lot of kids walking to school,” she said.
As a result, Living Streets Alliance has been working with the school for two years through its Safe Routes to School program to encourage kids and families to bike and walk through activities and events during the school year.
Despite those efforts, the area has long needed some TLC, said Cascio, who as a child walked through the neighborhood to get to Pueblo Gardens school.
“Until now, Menor Stravenue has been exactly the same as it was when I was a kid — hot, exposed, lacking any sort of green and generally neglected,” she said. “I love that it will finally get some attention and become a fun and inclusive place for the school and neighborhood.”
The benefits
The corners of the curb at the intersection of Plumer and Menor will be extended to shorten crossing distances and slow traffic in front of the school.
Colorful crosswalks with hopscotch or dance step designs will not only beautify the area but will encourage use by pedestrians and increase visibility to motorists.
Replacing graffiti with murals designed and researched by the school’s children and based on information gathered from longtime neighborhood residents will send a positive message to children as they make their way to campus each day.
Research shows play is vital to healthy brain development and is pivotal to how kids learn problem-solving, conflict resolution, and creativity. A lack of safe outdoor spaces limits those experiences and puts children at risk for health problems.
How to beautify YOUR neighborhood
While Living Streets Alliance is making use of a $20,000 grant and other community donations to make this renovation possible, there are low-cost options to beautify and unite your neighborhood.
• The Tucson organization Good Neighbor Ventures offers residents, schools, churches and neighborhoods the tools and skills needed to identify their needs and bring in resources to empower their area. This is a good starting point and also a place to potentially find grant funding.
• Organize a neighborhood clean up. The City of Tucson will even provide dumpsters and haul away debris at no cost. For more information, click here.
• Plant a tree: Tucson Electric Power’s Trees For You program allows TEP customers to purchase three shade trees a year for as little as $5 each.
• Paint a mural or a playful sidewalk: The City of Tucson encourages public art projects but there is an approval process to ensure that appropriate materials are being used and that the design is appropriate, among other issues. For more information on how to get started, call Jesse Soto in the neighborhood traffic management division at 791-4259.
