The Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility (OETM), part of the Department of Public Works (DPW) in Richmond, Virginia, is calling for volunteers to participate in a Community Paint Day. The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the intersection of Laburnum Avenue and Hermitage Road. This initiative provides residents with an opportunity to engage in creating a public art piece aimed at enhancing transportation safety.
The street mural is part of a traffic calming project intended to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety near Linwood Holton Elementary School. Sam Skrimpz, a resident artist with OETM, has arranged the artwork based on creative ideas from Linwood Holton students into a cohesive mural. The mural will be painted directly onto parts of the street not used by vehicles, serving as a visual cue for drivers entering pedestrian-oriented areas.
“This mural is more than just art—it’s a tool for safety and a symbol of community collaboration,” said Dironna Clarke, DPW Deputy Director. “By inviting residents to help paint it, we’re giving them a chance to take part in shaping a safer, more connected neighborhood.”
The project was informed by community input collected through the Richmond Connects outreach process, which highlighted local safety priorities. It forms part of broader efforts to create equitable and vibrant public spaces across Richmond.
Volunteer registration is required and can be completed online. For further details about the Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper (LQC) program and Richmond Connects Plan, additional information is available on their website.
Richmond’s LQC Program seeks to promote transportation equity and improve public safety while engaging communities in urban planning. As an initial phase of implementing Richmond Connects’ goals, LQC addresses urgent safety concerns with immediate solutions until permanent infrastructure changes are made.
The City of Richmond’s Department of Public Works is one among 195 accredited public works agencies nationwide. Its responsibilities include maintaining streets and sidewalks, managing waste collection services, overseeing urban forestry efforts, enforcing parking regulations, and supporting various other civic functions funded by the city’s general fund.
