Hillcroft Avenue at High Star Drive is a gnarly intersection to cross on foot. A crosswalk spans only one side of eight lanes of traffic just south of the Southwest Freeway. The awkward way Westward Street connects to the two other streets adds a layer of confusion for drivers and pedestrians. 

It all makes for a daunting walk for Houston newcomers (many refugees and immigrants settle in the area) making their way to the Gulfton neighborhood’s nearby shops and medical offices, or to bus transit, on the edge of the Southwest Management District.

But not for long.

Imagine the same intersection with colorful artwork bringing the crosswalk into focus and reminding drivers to slow down. A $25,000 Bloomberg Philanthropies asphalt art grant awarded to the city recently will fund such an installment on the street itself.

Bloomberg launched the grants to improve street and pedestrian safety, revitalize underutilized public space and promote civic engagement in local communities.

Similar art projects in Atlanta and Miami, among other cities, have cut in half the number of accidents involving pedestrians or bicyclists, according to a study Bloomberg released in April. The Hillcroft art project is the latest in a series of remake projects for Hillcroft, which has been identified as a hotspot for traffic crashes.

Other phases of the redesign brought finished bike lanes and additional stoplights. 

Murals painted onto the pavement introduce a bold, inexpensive and culturally relevant safety feature to the gray streets.

“Asphalt art is the next level of intervention to announce to people coming off of (U.S.) 59 they are entering a diverse neighborhood with others who may not be used to Texas (transportation) norms,” said Anne Whitlock, founding director of Connect Community.

Connect Community is a community development corporation operating in Sharpstown and Gulfton. Along with City of Houston Public Works, It was instrumental in securing the grant.

Organizers of the project envision the finished art will reflect the cosmopolitan essence of Gulfton, where residents hail from more than 80 countries.

“The art,” Whitlock said, “will attract people’s attention, get them to slow down and celebrate the internationality of the neighborhood and diverse culture of states and languages here.”

Photos with this article show some of the potential designs for the asphalt art.

Connect Community has seen some success at the intersection of art and safety. Working with four schools in the area, the organization painted crossings at Demoss and Tarnef drives following an auto-pedestrian accident that killed a 4-year-old. The painting faded, Whitlock said, but it did reduce collisions in the area.

Other collaborative projects aim to beautify Gulfton in a way that honors its diversity and makes its streets safer. 

“I think there’s a big synergy starting to come about in Gulfton,” said Elia Quiles, co-founder of UP Art Studio, and an artist on the project. “There are several non-profits and community groups helping to improve the community. Also, the city’s Complete Communities program has activated in this neighborhood, and there’s (the new Gulfton Area Management District), which will help with services such as litter abatement and graffiti removal in the future. This project is an additional tool to improve the neighborhood.”

Locals may recognize UP Art’s handiwork in the citywide Mini Murals program, where artists convert traffic signal control cabinets into striking art installments aligned with each neighborhood’s culture. As community engagement is central to the asphalt art grant, residents still have time to help decide the final design for Hillcroft.

“We will be engaging the community by going to where the community already is,” Quiles said. “This includes the Super Neighborhood and management district meetings that are well attended by community stakeholders.” 

UP Art is one of 70 partners working with Connect Community and Asakura Robinson on the holistic revitalization of Gulfton, which includes The Nature Conservancy’s Greener Gulfton Plan. Community members have an opportunity during planning meetings to help steer the art project. 

The city’s Engage Houston website hosts a survey for additional input.

— By Zanto Peabody