The crosswalks at Long Beach Boulevard and Bixby Road were painted with large-scale piano keys Tuesday, after the Long Beach Public Works Department contracted with Superior Pavement Markings for the project, intended to bring more awareness to the walkways in a whimsical way.
Manuel Umaña and Juan Navarro of Superior were using large, rectangular stencils to apply paint in the formation of “ebonies and ivories” Tuesday morning.
Umaña said they were using the same kind of striping paint utilized for streets and that the crosswalk embellishment is considered “permanent.”
In a phone interview with the Signal Tribune Wednesday, Eric Widstrand, city traffic engineer, said the idea of using piano keys at a crosswalk was something that had been discussed “internally” and that Public Works Director Craig Beck had suggested using “something a little more fun at that location to help identify a sense of place there.”
“We’ve got some new businesses going in there,” Widstrand said, “and [the project] helps define the excitement that’s coming to the neighborhood.”
Widstrand explained that the idea hadn’t been conceived by a local artist but instead came from other municipalities.
“Piano keys have been done in other cities throughout the country,” he said. “So, I think, we’ve seen that done and thought this would be a great thing to try in Long Beach at this location.”
The city traffic engineer indicated that the project, being the second of its kind in Long Beach, will be monitored to determine public input.
“I think that we call this a pilot project,” Widstrand said. “As we did with the rainbow crosswalks (on Broadway), we want to see how the community receives the artistic treatment of the crosswalks [and] make sure it’s still maintaining the same level of visibility for motorists and pedestrians at these locations, and then we’ll re-evaluate at a later date.”
On his Facebook page Tuesday, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia shared a photo of what he called “awesome new crosswalks” in Bixby Knolls.
“Our public works team and city crews did an awesome job designing and painting the crosswalks,” Garcia wrote. “They connect to the new Steelcraft project opening up on the corner. I love these creative crosswalks, and so do the neighborhoods. Thanks to Councilmembers Uranga and Austin and the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association for their partnership. Where should we put the next one?”
Blair Cohn, executive director of the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association, said he and his staff love the new crosswalks.
“I had met with Craig Beck, director of Public Works, a few months ago about traffic and parking issues on Long Beach Boulevard,” Cohn said. “Part of the discussion was about doing something to also draw attention to Steelcraft when it is ready to open. I explained that the BKBIA had wanted to paint a few crosswalks on our own to add to the art component on Atlantic Avenue. Craig said he may have something better for us to consider. And so when the piano keys arrived this week, we were thrilled! Not only does it jazz up the boulevard, but it’s another art component for the whole business district and neighborhood.”
