Creative Crosswalks in Natomas
Students at Smythe Academy show their work
About Creative Crosswalks in Natomas
Funded through a State of California grant allocated to City Council District 3 in combination with Office of Arts and Culture (OAC) city funds, and in partnership with Slow Down Sacramento, the Sacramento Art in Public Places (APP) program has been tasked with designing and installing Creative Crosswalks in City Council District 3. For this project, APP has partnered with two local schools in the Gardenland Northgate Neighborhood of Sacramento, Garden Valley Elementary and Smythe Academy.
The Gardenland-Northgate community is an important and historic area of Council District 3 and South Natomas. Due to increased traffic the thriving business corridor is seeking methods to slow speeds and increase pedestrian safety.
Data shows that these types of creative efforts along with better education on traffic safety can have a significant positive effect on reducing auto fatalities and injuries in neighborhoods.
APP has contracted with four artists who have done extraordinary work with the students. they have done numerous activities to create artwork around the theme of cultural patterns. The artists developed this theme with the help of participating teachers and students.
Meet the Artists
The Office of Arts and Culture and the D3 Council Member Talamantes Office is proud to announce the Creative Crosswalks Artists:
Team Garden Valley Elementary: Teaching Artist, Christina Stevenson and Design Artist, Jolene Russell
Team Smythe: Teaching Artist, Emma Montalbano and Design Artist, Uli Smith
About the Creative Crosswalks Artists
Read Creative Crosswalks Design Artist Uli Smith's Artist Statement
Read Creative Crosswalks Teaching Artist Emma Montalbano's Artist Statement
Read Creative Crosswalks Design Artist Jolene Russell's Artist Statement
Read Creative Crosswalks Teaching Artist Christina Stevenson's Artist Statement
Creative Crosswalks Activities
Creative Crosswalks along Northgate Blvd. in Natomas
Two Creative Crosswalks along the Northgate Blvd. Corridor in Natomas
Creative Crosswalks Revised Timeline
CREATIVE CORSSWALKS IN NATOMAS REVISED PROJECT TIMELINE
Due to unforseen administrative issues, the project timeline has been revised into 2026. We apologize for the delay and will post updates here.
July 2025 Launch RFQ
August 6th , 2025 Information Session via Zoom (Recorded)
August 18th, 2025 Deadline for submission to RFQ
January 2026 Selection Panel meets to select artists
February 2026 Artists notified
Feb-May 2026 Artist work with students in the classrooms
May 2026 Student Exhibition and Community Paint Days Event
May -Sept 2026 Teacher/Artists meetings & design development
Aug-Oct 2026 Design Artists present design concepts
Oct-Nov 2026 Designs with vendor for technical review
TBD Crosswalk Installation
Due to rising costs, original designs submitted by artists require redesign and simplification. We are working with the vendor and artists to finalize the designs and installation schedule before the end of 2026.