Topics:
Tags: Access, Equity, partnerships, placemaking
Originally published on railvolution.org. Rail~Volution is now Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility.
During the pandemic, in the spring and summer of 2021, Dee Powell helped transform a vacant lot in south Dallas into the MLK Food Park, while in Pittsburgh, Janel Young transformed a transit stop to highlight safety and lift community spirits. For both, being involved with placemaking projects offered the opportunity not only to reshape a location but also to interact with community members and consider who really has access. We asked them to share their views about placemaking, equity and partnering with cities or agencies. Hear what they say on our Voices from the Field videos.
Dee Powell, an urban planner and urban designer, is the founder of Do Right By the Streets Urban Planning (DRTBS), specializing in community engagement around zoning and land use as well as “place creation design.” Janel Young, an artist and principal of JY Originals, is “on a mission to inspire through creativity and play.” Offering interactive events and indoor/outdoor projects, she has worked on mural installations in cities from Pittsburgh to New York to Sydney, Australia. Thanks to Corrie Parrish, a member of Rail~Volution’s National Steering Committee, for connecting with Dee and Janel.
MLK Food Park
MLK Food Park vendor booth. (Courtesy: DRBTS)
The MLK Food Park in Dallas brought food vendors and small businesses together for a series of temporary events, offering a safe space for people to gather during the pandemic and a boost to local businesses (for more background, see this story in D Magazine and the DRBTS website).
Dee Powell, who coordinated the pop up festivals, sees placemaking events as an opportunity to “be present in the community,” to see “people in the streets outside of social media and city hall” and to see up close the “flaws” that hinder access for community members. For example, to get to the Food Park, people had to cross a very busy street. “Temporary placemaking puts things on the radar to propose options that are not car dependent.” They are an opportunity, she says, to start thinking differently about access and design.
The MLK Food Park was a collaboration between Better Block and DRBTS. A grant from The Real Estate Council and support from a range of sponsors provided the funding for a series of “take-overs” of the space.
Remaking a transit stop
Janel Young remakes a transit stop. (Courtesy: Port Authority of Allegheny County)
In Pittsburgh, Janel Young repainted the Port Authority’s busiest transit stop with a colorful design emphasizing the need to respect each other’s personal space. In creating the piece, Young responded to evolving CDC guidance during the pandemic and riders’ experiences on transit.
Young says that one of the attractions of public art is that it’s free, no ticket required, offering wide access for the community. “It’s very important to know if the space is someplace you can walk to, if you can bike there or take the bus or public transportation. Who’s going to be seeing this work or interact with it?”
Public art commissions mean access for under-represented artists, too. A large and visible canvas is an opportunity to “show I can take up space.” One challenge of these complex collaborations is defining mutual benefits among project partners as well as community impact. Partnerships work best, she says, when artists are engaged early and there’s recognition of the artist’s investment, creative process and timeline. Young would like to see more opportunities for permanent rather than temporary projects.
The Port Authority of Allegheny County (Pittsburgh’s transit provider) commissioned Young for the project with funds from a “rapid response COVID art initiative“ led by Smart Growth America and Forecast Public Art.
Looking ahead to 2022
We asked Janel and Dee how they are seeing their work in the year ahead.
“I believe cities and agencies are beginning to recognize and act on the true value of artists, especially in our role as communicators. It is both challenging and exciting to educate potential partners on the best ways to engage artists to make a meaningful, authentic impact on the community. I hope the momentum for hiring artists continues, with increased sustainable support for creators and placemakers.” – Janel Young
“I see a lot of continued transitioning in the way we (as urban planners) look at spaces and places and their real impact. I’m super excited to continue the work I’ve been doing and looking to work with other amazing entities/artists (like Janel) to further push the narrative of how we shape spaces (indoor and outdoor) in communities of color. Biggest challenge I’d say is regaining trust in my current community to do what we (urban planners) say we’re going to do to really cultivate these spaces/projects.” – Dee Powell