Dave Reid
Friday Photos

Whimsy Walks

Milwaukee's first whimsy walk arrived on Cathedral Square this week. More to come?

By - Jun 28th, 2013 06:01 pm

The first of Milwaukee’s “Whimsy Walks,” as architect Chris Socha calls them, arrived in East Town yesterday. Located at the intersections of Kilbourn Ave. and Jefferson St., and Wells St. and Jefferson St., a huge set of piano keys replaces the standard crosswalk pattern. Planned by the Department of Public Works and painted by Crowley Construction Corporation during the resurfacing of the streets, these add a little jazz to the neighborhood.  Perfect for Jazz in the Park.

It’s enough to make you want to pull a Tom Hanks and bust out with Heart and Soul.

And there may be more “whimsy walks” coming. Andrea Rowe Richards, of the East Side BID, left a Facebook comment on our picture of the installation noting discussions at her group. “We were considering something similar for East Side BID (but not piano keys.) Love new takes on the everyday features of streets, it sparks the imagination and gives you a sense of place,” she wrote. And another neighborhood may get in to the act as Jeff Sherman, of OnMilwaukee.com, reported that the “DPW hopes to install additional creative public art cross walks in the Historic Third Ward. They’ll be used to connect the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design to its union.”

Are there other locations or new creative designs you’d like to see?  If so let us know and we’ll spread the word.

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Categories: Friday Photos

3 thoughts on “Friday Photos: Whimsy Walks”

  1. Frank says:

    That’s all we need… people dancing around like Tom Hanks in the middle of the street.

  2. Dave Reid says:

    @Frank I’d love to see it… As we all seem to forget streets are for people:)

  3. Bill says:

    I’ll be waiting for some of our smart Milwaukee techs to install a camera based music system for our festivals!!!

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