In celebration of the City of Tampa’s fifth Crosswalks to Classrooms project at Broward Elementary School, on Friday, September 19th at 11 am, Mayor Jane Castor and Jacobs, a local engineering consulting firm, will distribute children’s books to the students at Broward Elementary. Each Crosswalks to Classrooms mural features brightly colored book spines, all painted by artist Jay Giroux of the READ Movement. Broward faculty and students selected seven popular elementary school book titles which are represented in the school’s mural. The donated books will help to supply Broward Elementary School’s “Friday book cart” which grants a free book to each student every Friday to help build their home libraries and inspire a love for reading.
Art on the Block is an initiative by Mayor Jane Castor that is envisioned to bring art and artists into the neighborhoods. The intent of this program is to make art accessible to all and to further incentivize curb appeal. Crosswalk murals also help to calm traffic by adding visual interest to an intersection or street. The City’s Crosswalks to Classrooms program supports the Vision Zero mission, eliminating all traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries, which is one key facet of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s Transforming Tampa’s Tomorrow vision. Crosswalk murals are effective tools for improving street safety, enhancing the livability of our streets, revitalizing public spaces, and bringing communities together.
In addition to the Crosswalks to Classrooms program, Vision Zero safety improvements are planned citywide, including speed limit reductions, adding stop signs which are proven to reduce crashes at intersections by up to 70%, and major capital projects such as the 34th Street and Floribraska Avenue Complete Streets projects.
WHO: Mayor Jane Castor, School Principal Angela Livingston, Jacobs representative Tricia Shuler
WHAT: Book Drive Drop-off to Commemorate Crosswalks to Classrooms mural
WHERE: Broward Elementary School in Tampa
WHEN: Friday, September 18th at 11 am
For additional information onsite, contact Danni Jorgenson at (813) 417-0218 or