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Increasing Safety Through Temporary Placemaking

MIBOR REALTOR® Association’s temporary placemaking project increases safety and walkability in Cumberland, Indiana.

November 1, 2022
Smart Growth
By: Maddie Love

The Town of Cumberland has continued to prioritize the safety and walkability of its residents. Located within the community is a heavily traveled and unsafe street without a sidewalk or crosswalk. It also offers no access to the local park and trail system. The Town wanted to install bike and pedestrian lanes, a crosswalk with street art, and a stone trail that would lead to the local trail system and park. Prior to installing permanent assets, the Town of Cumberland wanted to test the viability of the potential assets.

A colorful temporary crosswalk art in the Town of Cumberland

Courtesy of MIBOR REALTOR® Association

Temporary crosswalk art in the Town of Cumberland.

MIBOR REALTOR® Association joined the effort to increase safety and walkability within the Town of Cumberland, and with the help of a Placemaking Grant from the National Association of REALTORS®, the Town of Cumberland was able to install temporary bike and pedestrian lanes, a crosswalk with street art, and a temporary stone trail to the local park.

Colorful crosswalk art at the entrance to the temporary stone trail in the Town of Cumberland, IN

Courtesy of MIBOR REALTOR® Association

Crosswalk art at entrance to temporary stone trail.

The importance of creating temporary projects to test the viability of permanent projects continues to ring true. The new temporary assets are already making a difference within the community. The goal of the project was to not only test the viability of the potential assets but to increase safety and walkability for Cumberland residents. Local drivers have slowed down as they approach the beautifully painted crosswalk, and residents enjoy the pop of art in the unexpected place. Residents in the neighborhoods near the project have appreciated the efforts to create a safe place for them to access the park and trail system.

A temporary stone trail leading to a park in Cumberland, IN

Courtesy of MIBOR REALTOR® Association

Temporary stone trail that leads to the local park in Cumberland, IN.

The Town of Cumberland will continue to monitor and maintain the temporary assets. They also plan to apply for a grant through the state of Indiana to upgrade both the local park and the temporary amenities to permanent ones in the coming years.

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Community Outreach Programs

Housing Opportunity Grant
Housing Opportunity Grants support state and local REALTOR® Associations’ affordable housing activities. The goal of the program is to position REALTORS® as leaders in improving their communities by creating affordable housing
opportunities.

Smart Growth Grant
Smart growth is an approach to development that encourages a mix of building types and uses, diverse housing and transportation options, development within existing neighborhoods, and community engagement. The Smart Growth Program offers state and local REALTOR® Associations to way to engage with government officials, community partners and the general public in planning and designing community’s future.

Diversity
Planned diversity initiatives makes good business sense. REALTOR® Associations with well-planned diversity programs create a stronger sense of community, particularly in neighborhoods with high concentrations of foreign-born and minority residents who are moving up the socioeconomic ladder and are buying homes.

NAR Placemaking Resources

Placemaking Guide: A Guide to Transform a Public Space into a Community Place
REALTORS® and state and local association staff can learn the details of Placemaking, the kinds of projects placemaking entails, how to organize them, and where to go for assistance and resources.

Placemaking Webinar Series
Our Placemaking Webinar Series will provide more in depth information on the various types of Placemaking and how REALTORS® were involved in Placemaking activities in their communities.

Placemaking Grant
The Placemaking Grant funds the creation of new public spaces, like pocket parks, trails & gardens, in a community. The grant focuses on “lighter, cheaper, quicker” placemaking projects, which can be built under a year and cost less  than $200,000.

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