Painting Paseo: 26 Blocks of Joy (on NYC's 34th Ave Open Street)
The first weekend in April saw the 34th Avenue, the 1.3 mile open street in Jackson Heights, Queens begin transforming the granite traffic-calming blocks at the head of most streets from uninspiring grey to vivid designs of fun & nature from a diverse group of Queens-based artists who had applied and submitted their ideas in the Fall.
The Alliance for Paseo Park initiated the project nearly a year ago with funding from Council Member Shekar Krishnan and a committee first spent months getting permission from the NYC DOT. They then selected 26 Queens-based artists (many living right along the open street) and over the winter chose a universal color palette each composition had to utilize.
In addition, most of the artists had no experience in painting granite and luckily, shortly after their deployment in 2022, Jackson Heights neighbor Grace Alejandra brought out some paintbrushes and expressed herself on a few of the blocks to beautify the open street. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive and she was recruited as a mentor and advice giver to those needing tips in painting granite.
Пікірлер: 19
I love how vibrant this stretch of Queens is! During the school weekday afternoon, its just kids everywhere! They were loud and boisterous, yet it was so quiet (i.e. no traffic noises).
@StreetfilmsCommunity
2 ай бұрын
That basically sums it up. I might have to use that quote sometime!!
Orgullosa de mi hija Grace Martínez que sembró la semillita en su barrio!!! Y ahora todos pintando❤
What a fantastic project, 'people art'.
Love this
Fantastic! ❤
Beautiful.
Riding a bicycle is a great way to exercise. Ebikes are bringing many older adults back to cycling. Cities need to do more to encourage people to ride bicycles. Safe protected bike lanes and trails are needed so adults and children can ride safely. Speak up for bicycles in your community. Bicycles make life and cities better. Ask your local transportation planner and elected officials to support more protected bike lanes and trails. Children should be riding a bicycle to school and not be driven in a minivan. Be healthier and happier. Ride a bicycle regularly.
Interesting that someone mentions DOT, yet DOT has twice said in writing (as recently as last week) that they don't have traffic-calming blocks on 34th Ave. Huh.
@StreetfilmsCommunity
2 ай бұрын
Well that is my term for them and how they are serving. They may call them diverters or obstructions to keep drivers out of the ped space or maybe even a form of daylighting. But they are there whatever you want to call them. And they work. And now they are beautiful.
@hellonerdity
2 ай бұрын
@@StreetfilmsCommunity I agree with you on that, but two DOT officials claim they don't exist and had no idea what I'm talking about when I mentioned them. And these were DOT officials who work on the OS program, not some random workers. It makes no sense to me. Shrug
@mapgar1479
2 ай бұрын
That space belongs to cars and busses too. I have a plan to mill the asphalt and restore the streets original brick or belgian block surface and reopen it to cars and encourage the MTA to put a much needed bus line on the collector.@@StreetfilmsCommunity
@TheRailLeaguer
2 ай бұрын
@@mapgar1479That’s not how any of this works. Also there’s no need for a bus route on 34th Avenue as the Q66 is nearby in Northern Blvd and the Q49 operates along 35th Avenue. Also vehicular traffic has been pretty low on 34th Avenue anyway so no need for any reopening to cars. Remember, build for people, not cars.
Can't wait to take a sledgehammar to these and drive and park on Paseo Parallel Parking lot when I come visit my internet pals.
@TheRailLeaguer
2 ай бұрын
You joking, right?
@StreetfilmsCommunity
2 ай бұрын
@@TheRailLeaguer He's a child. Ignore him.
@mapgar1479
26 күн бұрын
@@StreetfilmsCommunity Adults don't need playgrounds. The right to travel as one sees fit has been instituted to us during the Recreational Automobile Era of the 1920s and 30s
@greek9244
Күн бұрын
@@mapgar1479 the right to travel exists outside of drivers mate.