INDIANAPOLIS — An east Indianapolis neighborhood is using art to combat speeding on a main street through town.
Drivers are used to seeing lower speed limits in school zones, but what happens when signs aren't enough to keep kids safe?
"Kids should be able to walk and bike to their neighborhood school," said Leslie Schulte, with the Community Heights Neighborhood Organization.
"We heard from parents and community members that folks were speeding through the school zone, and that folks were using the center turn lane, especially when the crossing guard was out," Schulte said.
That's why Schulte, along with around 200 volunteers, decided to take matters into their own hands. They did so using a paintbrush.
"Art heals," visual artist Deonna Craig said. "Art is a unifying language. Art is able to bring people together, solve problems. I think that it may be an answer to world peace."
On 16th Street, just outside IPS' Anna Brochhausen School 88, art may be the answer to stop speeding.
Community members worked together to design and paint a traffic-calming street mural. Full of bright colors, it catches drivers' eyes and keeps them on the road.
"So it's either, 'get off of your phones, stop texting, stop doing the things besides being at 10 and 2,'" Craig said.
Between the hues of red, blue, and green, Craig says the mural is also loaded with community input.
"They actually took the time to draw what they wanted to see, and then, I incorporated their thoughts into this mural as well," Craig said.
Not only does the mural bring a visual element to the neighborhood, it also has the "stamp of approval" from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
"Anytime the community gets involved, takes an active part in their neighborhood or just being engaged in their community, it's a great thing, and that's what we want to see," IMPD Officer Tommy Thompson said.
Thompson says it's part of a much larger effort known as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.
"That way, their eyes are naturally lifted to the pedestrians that may be crossing," Thompson said.
At this intersection, most pedestrians are students at School 88, according to Principal Carmen Sharp.
"We want our kids to be safe," Sharp said. "We want them to walk to school safely and then go back home safely."
So far, some residents say the street mural is working.
"Yes, we have found that it does help drivers pay attention," Schulte said.
The work, however, it's over yet.
"Paint isn't always enough," Schulte said. "We also want to see median islands placed in front of the school and directly east and west of the school to prevent that passing in the center turn lane."
The street mural is a project years in the making, made possible by the partnership between School 88 and Community Heights.
"We both want the same thing," Schulte said. "We both want it to be safe to walk and bike around our neighborhood and to the school."
"You feel like people care," Sharp said. "It's not like you're in this by yourself or you're the only one out here trying to protect the children. You feel like the community really cares what happening."
"Anything that you do, you are so much stronger with a team behind you," Craig said.
Thompson says if other neighborhoods want to pursue a similar project, start by contacting Indy DPW.
"Find out what the legality is and what they're allowed to do," Thompson said. "You cannot just paint randomly on the city streets."
On Saturday, Sept. 14 at 9:30 a.m., Community Heights will be expanding the mural further east on 16th Street. Schulte says organizers are still looking for more volunteers to help paint.
Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to contact the Community Heights team.
"It's just great," Sharp said. "It looks good. It makes people feel good. I think it's also just changed the community a little bit."