Leon County, KCCI Bring Art to Life with Colorful Crosswalks near Courthouse
Today, KCCI and Leon County Government unveiled three visually captivating crosswalks near the Judge Augustus D, Aikens, Jr. Leon County Courthouse to enhance pedestrian safety while fostering a shared community appreciation for public art, elevating them from mundane to mesmerizing.
“These crosswalks are a great example of how public art can enhance our community by improving both safety and aesthetics,” said Leon County Commission Chairman Brian Welch. “We’re proud to continue partnering with KCCI to bring creative, community-centered solutions to life.”
Located along Calhoun Street at the intersections of College Avenue and Jefferson Street, the vibrant crosswalks create a visually engaging and safer connection between the Calhoun Eastside Parking Garage and the Judge Augustus D. Aikens, Jr. Leon County Courthouse.
“Artistic crosswalks like these inspire creativity and community pride, while making our streets safer for everyone,” said KCCI Executive Director Betsy Couch. “We’re grateful to partner with Leon County and the Community Foundation of North Florida to make this vision a reality.”
By transforming standard crosswalks into colorful works of art, the project aligns with the KCCI’s placemaking mission and the County’s ongoing efforts to provide essential public safety infrastructure and promote livability, health, and sense of community by enhancing mobility, expanding public art access and improving the visibility of crosswalks. Funding for the artistic designs on the crosswalks was made possible through a KCCI grant received from the Knight Foundation Fund from the Community Foundation of North Florida.
“This project is a true testament to the power of collaboration,” said Leon County District 5 Commissioner David T. O’Keefe. “These vibrant crosswalks will benefit not only the citizens of District 5 but the entire County, enhancing both safety and the beauty of our community.”
“Through this project, we’re creating a safer and more vibrant path for our community members as they navigate downtown,” said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long. “This is just another example of how we continue to collaborate with community partners to make our County a place where people want to live, work, and visit.”
The crosswalk artwork was selected through a Call for Artists presented by KCCI, which invited County residents to submit original designs that inspire excitement and foster a unique sense of place. Among the submissions, Harmonic Suns, a piece by versatile artist and designer Sherlyn Rosiclair-Reyes, was chosen for the crosswalk design. Sherlyn explores bold patterns and symbolism through both digital and traditional mediums, drawing from cultural, spiritual, and personal influences. Based in Florida, they continue to evolve their artistic practice, blending structure with spontaneity.
This project builds on the longstanding partnership between the County and KCCI, including the most recent public art project, Crosswalks to Classrooms – Dempsey Mayo, where the County and KCCI installed three elevated, artistic crosswalks along Dempsey Mayo Road near W.T. Moore Elementary and Westminster Oaks to enhance pedestrian safety. Speed studies following the installations showed notable reductions in traffic speeds, with decreases of up to 23.7% in some areas, reinforcing the effectiveness of these enhancements.
“The artistic crosswalks add vibrancy to our downtown area, making it a more inviting place for residents and visitors alike,” said Ausley McMullen Shareholder Jeff Whalen. “With my office located right next door, I appreciate efforts like this that improve walkability and create a more engaging experience for our community.”
For pictures, visit https://www.leonphotos.org/p950255917. For more information, contact Mathieu Cavell, Leon County Community and Media Relations, at 850-606-5300 or CMR@LeonCountyFL.gov or Betsy Couch at (850) 509-3767.
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About the Knight Creative Communities Institute (KCCI): Established in 2007, KCCI annually selects and organizes volunteers known as Community Catalysts to implement placemaking projects. These projects have helped enhance Tallahassee’s sense of place and generated nearly $1 billion in economic development. A new group of volunteer Community Catalysts is selected to plan and implement each annual project. KCCI is made possible by partners including: Knight Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation of North Florida, Archibald Foundation, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, VyStar Credit Union, Taproot, FAMU School of Business and Industry, Florida State University College of Business, NAI TALCOR, Structure Real Estate, Nolia & Bill Brandt, Lewis + Whitlock, Wood + Partners, Brown & Brown, BowStern Marketing, Serena and Jon Moyle, Cassidy and Company, Tharpe Construction, Flightline Group, Inc., Dentist Dr. Cory Couch, and Charlie Johnson.