CDA Choice Neighborhoods Grant Public Art Projects

Public art projects in the Downtown West, Columbus Square, Old North St. Louis, St. Louis Place and Carr Square neighborhoods.

Public Art in the Near North Side: Celebrating Community and Creativity

The Near North Side neighborhoods of Columbus Square, Old North St. Louis, St. Louis Place, Carr Square, and Downtown West are transforming into hubs of creativity and connection through a vibrant public art initiative. Funded by a Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, this placemaking effort is a key component of the Preservation Square affordable housing redevelopment. With additional support from the Metropolitan Sewer District's Project Clear program, which brings stormwater mitigation to Carr Square through rain gardens, this initiative showcases how art and infrastructure can work hand-in-hand to uplift communities.

Guided by the Near North Side Choice Public Art Advisory Group, composed of representatives from all five neighborhoods, this project features a diverse collection of works selected through a competitive process. Highlights include sculptures in a pocket park, a stunning mural on the Loretta Hall City Park basketball court, mosaic panels for the park's comfort station, unique neighborhood-inspired banners on light poles, colorful park-to-park crosswalk designs by three artists, and two bus shelters wrapped in translucent public art. These installations reflect the creativity of the artists and the spirit of the community they serve.

Explore the images and artist bios below to learn more about the visionaries behind this transformative project!

  • Carr Square bus stop shelter - east Tyler Harris was selected to create a translucent art piece to wrap around the new bus shelter installed on N. 14th Street to serve the residents of the nearby, newly constructed, 555 affordable and market rate housing units. Bus Shelter
  • Carr Square bus stop shelter - west Noel Spiva was selected to create a translucent art piece to wrap around the new bus shelter installed on N. 14th Street to serve the residents of the nearby newly constructed 555 affordable and market rate housing units. Bus Shelter
  • Carr Square Neighborhood Banners The Carr Square Project Connect Neighborhood Planning Committee selected Jasmyn Diggs (aka the Art of Jas) as the designer of its public art initiative neighborhood banners.  The banners will be installed on City light poles within the neighborhood. Banner
  • Columbus Square Neighborhood Banners Columbus Square selected Simiya Sudduth to create their 8' neighborhood banners; they will be mounted on 4 City light poles in the neighborhood. Banner
  • Downtown West Neighborhood Banners The Downtown West Neighborhood Association selected Hayveyah McGowan as the artist to design the neighborhood's banner.  The banners will be installed on City light poles within the neighborhood. Banner
  • Enduring Currents Enduring Currents makes a parallel between the flowing of the nearby Mississippi River and the unyielding resilience of the Near North Side's inhabitants. Statue
  • Loretta Hall Park Basketball Court Artist, Brock Seals, created this colorful mural for the basketball court in Loretta Hall Park. Mural
  • Loretta Hall Park Mosaic Tile panels adorn the comfort station in Loretta Hall Park. Mosaic
  • Old North St. Louis Neighborhood Banners Residents of Old North St. Louis and the Old North Neighborhood Association selected the team of Luisa Otero-Prada and Andrea Hughes to design their neighborhood banners.  The banners will be installed on City light poles within the neighborhood. Banner
  • Park to Park Crosswalks Public Art - Desoto Stajah Curry designed the crosswalks near Desoto Park so children around Jefferson Elementary School, Elmer Hammond Development Center, and Flance Learning Center would have a colorful path between 3 parks:  Murphy, DeSoto and Loretta Hall Parks. Crosswalk
  • Park to Park Crosswalks Public Art - Loretta Hall Park Jamie Bonfiglio designed and installed the colorful painted crosswalks around Loretta Hall park to the new small park where the Enduring Currents sculptures are.  The crosswalks enhance the walk between Murphy, DeSoto and Loretta Hall parks. Crosswalk
  • Park to Park Crosswalks Public Art - Murphy Park Fatou Kane designed the crosswalks near Murphy Park, Jefferson Elementary School, Elmer Hammond Development Center, and Flance Learning Center  to provide children and families a colorful path between 3 parks:  Murphy, DeSoto and Loretta Hall Parks. Crosswalk
  • St. Louis Place Neighborhood Banners The St. Louis Place neighborhood selected David Gorden to design its neighborhood banners.  They will be installed on City light poles within the neighborhood. Banner

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