At the end of this month, there will be five new crosswalks added to Superior Street in Lincoln Park. This work is part of a demonstration project funded by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, through its Active Transportation program. The grant is called Streetside Activation, which describes the process of making a street more accessible, friendly, and active. In addition to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Ecolibrium3 is excited to be partnering with the City of Duluth on this project. In this case, the project is also responding to requests from residents and business owners: safer street crossings; greenery; and public art.
Safer street crossings. Adding delineators expands the sidewalk to create spaces called “bump outs,” or curb extensions. These are corners that are built to expand the size of the sidewalk, while making the street crossing shorter. Bump outs often include curb cuts as well, small ramps to make it easier to transition from sidewalk to street. Many bump outs already exist along Superior Street.
Throughout the Lincoln Park neighborhood, there will also be temporary directional signs posted. The signs are designed to encourage visitors to explore the neighborhood beyond the densest area of Superior Street, and to spend more time in this lovely area. By including walking times, the signs highlight that many attractions in Lincoln Park are closer than they may seem! Increasing foot traffic is good for local businesses and makes the neighborhood feel more friendly and vibrant. The signs are designed to help familiarize visitors with the area. They may even help reduce the demand for street parking, by making it easier for people to park further away from the businesses they plan to visit.
The new crosswalks will remain in place after the demonstration period is over. However, the delineators and planters will be removed once it begins to snow; in the case of a large snowfall, they could damage plows or interfere with snow clearance. Through the month of September, we will be gathering information and feedback on these changes, as a pilot for future updates along West Superior Street.
Installation of this demonstration project is taking place on August 31. The City of Duluth is painting the crosswalks and bump out lines, which will be fully functional on the day of installation. Residents and visitors are invited to use the QR codes and other information on the signs to learn more about the project and give feedback. If you see a sign out and about, post a picture on social media and tag us @ecolibrium3 and @ourlincolnparkduluth! We’d love to know how they are being used throughout the month.
Come Paint the Street!
Volunteers are invited to come help with painting the murals at the two intersections. The paintings are the only parts of the project that will remain after the pilot is completed; we would love to see many community members come to participate and make their mark on the district!
The painting and installation will take place on Thursday, August 31st (with a rain date of Friday, September 1st), mid-morning. The design and materials will be provided. To join this fun project, fill out this form. Final details of exact time, where to park, etc., will be sent to volunteers who complete the form. We’re looking forward to seeing you!
Signups for this event are now closed. Thank you to all our volunteers!