The Paint Pot project (from last summer/fall) continues with many exciting developments. In recent weeks Anna Kelso of Bike Fort Collins and Nick Heimann, of FC Moves presented together at the Colorado Public Health Parks and Recreation Collaborative 2022 summit: For the Sake of Mental Health ~ How built environment, recreation, parks and public health are creating hope, change, and optimism in the midst of a pandemic. In their presentation titled, “Asphalt Art, Paint Pot, and Community Cohesion as Mental Health”, they discussed the importance of asphalt art, community building and placemaking on public health and how these intentions came together in a partnership between the City of Fort Collins and Bike Fort Collins. We are grateful for these opportunities to present as a means of educating more people in the planning and mental health field on the importance of cohesive communities, mental health and how to actually get these projects on the ground in more communities.
We are also pleased to announce that grant funds from the National Association of City Transportation Officals (NACTO) will continue to make an impact in Fort Collins as we move forward with our fourth in the neighborhood of Alta Visa. Long time resident and community lead, Ashley Cordova, is taking the charge on these efforts and connecting with folks who call Alta Vista home. We are currently in developmental stages, with design and location soon to be formally determined.
To date we have held two community engagement events with the express intent of engaging folks from Alta Vista in the process of rethinking our built environment and creating a mural that both speaks to the history and culture of the neighborhood and addresses bicycle, pedestrian and vehicular interactions. These community events included a burrito dinner night at the Fort Collins streets department as well as a coffee and donut gathering in Alta Vista park. We look forward to our final community gathering in late April where we will present the final mural design and begin planning for community mural painting.