Colorful Corners
We are painting “no parking” areas to improve pedestrian safety and make Boston’s streets more beautiful and family-friendly.
"Slow Down" designed by Colomba Klenner installed at the King K-6 School as a part of the Colorful Corners Pilot Program.
Program Overview
The Boston Transportation Department and Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics launched Colorful Corners as part of the 2026 Public Space Invitational design competition. We collected design ideas from talented residents and local artists and selected several winning designs to paint in clear corners and other “no parking areas” across Boston. Winning designs can be seen below!
With winning designs in hand, we are partnering with local schools and community groups to paint “no parking” areas (also known as “clear corners” or “daylighting spaces”) near school zones, parks, and community centers to improve street safety and make Boston’s streets more vibrant and family-friendly.
Safety Benefits
A “clear corner”, or “daylighting” area, is the space next to a crosswalk or intersection where parking is prohibited. Parked vehicles or other obstructions can block views of pedestrians crossing the street, cyclists, or approaching vehicles.
Clear corners reduce the likelihood of crashes at intersections and increase safety for everyone. Clear corners also make it easier for fire trucks, delivery trucks, and other larger vehicles to turn. With clear corners, these larger vehicles are less likely to scrape other parked cars or get stuck.
Over the last decade, cities around the world have been testing and evaluating the safety impacts of asphalt art and street murals to improve street safety, especially at intersections. Emerging research from Washington, D.C., New York City, and other cities shows that incorporating asphalt art into clear corners and curb-extension treatments can improve pedestrian safety by reducing vehicle speeds, increasing driver yielding, and reducing pedestrian–vehicle conflicts.
PILOT LOCATIONS
We have partnered with our Safe Routes to Schools team to pilot Colorful Corners at three schools already participating in the program. Installations are taking place during the Fall of 2026.
- Higginson-Lewis K-8 School at 131 Walnut Avenue
- King K-6 School at 66 Lawrence Avenue
- Russell Elementary School at 750 Columbia Road
We hope to expand the Colorful Corners program to additional schools and family destinations in 2027.
