Main Street Columbus and the Frank P. Phillips Memorial YMCA are teaming up to bring a new colorful crosswalk decorated with the handprints of Y summer campers to downtown.
Main Street Columbus is one of 10 recipients of a $1,500 America Walks “Community Change Grant,” sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Barbara Bigelow, Main Street Columbus executive director, told The Dispatch the grant will be used to create a handprint crosswalk at the corner of Sixth Street and Second Avenue North.
The Community Change Grant program aims to fund programs and projects that promote healthy, active communities, according to the press release.
“This project will engage the community in the creation of public art by allowing children participating in the Y Summer Camp to actually create the art,” Bigelow said. “We are grateful to America Walks and the CDC for this special opportunity to continue to improve downtown Columbus and serve our community. We are excited to work with the Downtown Y staff and engage the hands of children from their summer camp.”
Work on the crosswalk should begin and end the week of June 24, weather permitting, Bigelow said. The first day contractors will mark the area, pressure wash the path and paint the first base coat of white on the ground. The next day campers will paint the crosswalk with their own colorful handprints, and volunteers provided by Main Street Columbus will watch over the area.
Sixth Street North, located between Main Street and Second Avenue North, will be closed for two days while the crosswalk is being painted.
Cars on Main Street will be able to turn north on Sixth Street and turn around in order to get back on Main Street during work on the project, according to the press release from Columbus Main Street. If the work has to be delayed, the project will be pushed back to the week of July 8.
Jimmy Woodruff, executive director for the YMCA, said in the press release that the YMCA was thankful for the opportunity to help Main Street Columbus with the painted crosswalk project.
“Our summer camp children are eager to demonstrate their collective artistic talents, which will be displayed for all to see at the corner of Sixth Street and Second Avenue North,” he said. “This project between the YMCA and Main Street Columbus will give our downtown area a uniquely personal touch.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 44 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
