Colourful crosswalks to brighten streets

Council has given its blessing to allowing community groups to gussy up city crosswalks with brilliant paint and themed images. “It’s a great idea and we’re just trying to set an initial framework that gets this out of the gate,” Mayor Drew Dilkens said of the new coloured crosswalks policy approved Monday night.

The policy is a response to multiple requests to paint crosswalks. They included Windsor Symphony Orchestra’s proposal for musical-themed crossings near the WSO’s Capitol Theatre headquarters; a rainbow-themed crosswalk near Walkerville Collegiate to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the first gay-straight alliance in a local high school; The Initiative’s plan to paint three crosswalks in the low-income Glengarry-to-Marentette neighbourhood to celebrate the area’s diversity and residents’ cultural heritage; and Stroll Windsor’s proposal for a painted crossing on Erie Street at Marentette Avenue.

While the policy is aimed at promoting public art and making surrounding neighbourhoods more attractive, there are also some rules to ensure the crosswalks are safe and visible.

The new policy requires that applicants be responsible for materials, installation and all other costs. It also requires the applicant gets support from at least 60 per cent of the neighbourhood. And the City of Windsor has the right to deny applications based on the design or the location.

“No markings representing commercial, religious or political organizations shall be permitted,” according to the policy, which also says the city can deny applications from groups that espouse hatred, violence or racism.

“The markings should celebrate our culture, history and events,” the policy says.

And if an applicant fails to maintain the crosswalk, it can be replaced with standard white markings.

Many cities in Ontario have already embraced the idea of letting community groups create colourful crosswalks.

An earlier city report estimated the cost of materials ranges from $1,000 for asphalt paint that lasts one to three years, to $15,000 for thermoplastic paint that can last up to 10 years.