Colourful crosswalks bring public art to Maple Ridge town centre park

Two new colourful public art crosswalks have been installed at Memorial Peace Park in Maple Ridge. Titled “See You At The Park,” the designs are intended to reflect the energy, colour and movement of one of the city’s most active gathering places.

Artist in residence Colleen Brown said the park brings people together through lively community events, and the crosswalks reflect the joyful feeling and movement of foot traffic during those events. Together, they celebrate movement, colour and community. The south crosswalk features spring pinks inspired by flowers and rhododendrons in the park. The north crosswalk uses cool greens inspired by glass on a nearby tower, creating an evening counterpart to the south entrance design.

Brown has been one of two artists in residence since 2023. Primarily a sculptor, she explores relationships between objects and materials to express social relationships. She has worked with community members of all ages on arts-based experiences and projects in Maple Ridge.

Chad Neufeld, the city’s manager of parks planning and development, said the crosswalks are another way the city is bringing public art into everyday spaces and creating unique, welcoming places for residents and visitors to experience.

The artist in residence program gives artists opportunities to lead arts-based community engagement projects that build community pride and animate neighbourhoods, public facilities and parks. In exchange for completing a minimum number of approved community engagement activities, artists receive live-work studio space for approximately three years. The program is managed by the city’s Recreation Services department.

More information about Colleen Brown and the Artist in Residence Program is available at https://www.mapleridge.ca/art-parks-rec/arts-theatre/artist-residence?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NR---Colourful-New-Crosswalks-Bring-Art%2C-Movement-and-Commun&utm_source=Envoke-202583%7C202586%7C202589&utm_term=Colourful-New-Crosswalks-Bring-Art%2C-Movement-and-Community-t.