Posted May 16, 2025

~ No art experience needed – just your time, energy, and love for Richmond ~

RICHMOND, VA – The Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility (OETM), a division within the Department of Public Works (DPW) invites volunteers to join them for a Community Paint Day on Saturday, May 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Laburnum Avenue and Hermitage Road. The event offers residents a hands-on opportunity to contribute to a public art piece that also serves a larger purpose: improving transportation safety.

The mural is a key element in a traffic calming project designed to increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety near Linwood Holton Elementary School. The artwork, inspired by the creative visions of Linwood Holton students, has been arranged into a cohesive mural by Sam Skrimpz, resident artist with the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility.

Painted directly onto portions of the street that are not intended for vehicle traffic, the mural acts as a colorful visual cue to alert drivers that they are entering a pedestrian oriented space. Street murals have been shown to help slow traffic, create a sense of place and enhance community-rooted safety culture.

The project was shaped by extensive community input gathered through the Richmond Connects outreach process, which identified local safety priorities. The mural and associated improvements are part of a broader effort to create more equitable, accessible, and vibrant public spaces across Richmond. “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.”

Volunteer sign-up required, go to: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054EACAD29AAF4C52-56805052-community

Event Details:

Who: Richmond Department of Public Works and the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility

What: Street Art Mural Installation by Community Volunteers | Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper Project (LQC)

When: Saturday, May 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Intersection of Laburnum Avenue and Hermitage Road, near Linwood Holton Elementary School

Why: The purpose of the Community Paint Day mural installation is to enhance pedestrian, bicyclist, and driver safety at the intersection of Laburnum Avenue and Hermitage Road. The mural will serve as a visual traffic-calming tool, encouraging driver to slow down and look for people on foot and on bikes. Beyond improving safety, the project also aims to promote community involvement by giving residents a direct role in shaping their public spaces. This initiative reflects priorities identified through the Richmond Connects outreach process.

For more information on the LQC program and the Richmond Connects Plan, please visit https://www.rva.gov/public-works/lqc

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The Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper (LQC) Program is a key initiative in the city’s efforts to promote transportation equity, improve public safety, and foster community engagement in urban planning. As the first phase of the Richmond Connects implementation process, LQC aims to address pressing safety concerns and provide more immediate solutions while longer-term, permanent infrastructure changes are being developed. Although LQC projects are not intended to replace permanent infrastructure, they provide essential, timely improvements to make streets safer and more accessible in the interim.

The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 195 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk, and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting; graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1