Redesign commercial corridor sidewalks with art and benches

The idea

Redesign the sidewalks of commercial corridors: identify the "main street" of different neighborhoods and overhaul the pedestrian zone. Sidewalks with art embedded in them, fashionable benches, street trees etc to enhance the character of the area.

Who it helps and why

There is a snowballing effect when the public realm is left neglected: broken sidewalks and overflowing trash cans are accepted as a given and allowed to get worse, discouraging people from spending time there and making local businesses less attractive. Beautifying these areas would tie long-needed repairs to a sense of local pride. Bostonians love art and symbols that they can point to as icons of the city they call home. It will also motivate people to want to keep the area not just well-maintained, but beautiful. Mosaics/murals/crosswalks on the ground can be thematically linked to unique bike racks, trash receptacles, and benches to create a sense of neighborhood identity.