Transit System Adds 24 Bus Stop Murals
New partnership with city and MPS creates interactive murals to stimulate early childhood development.
![Mayor Cavalier Johnson speaks at the June 28, 2022 bus stop murals press conference. Photo by Graham Kilmer.](https://urbanmilwaukee.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/L1070116_busmural-1024x768.jpg)
Mayor Cavalier Johnson speaks at the June 28, 2022 bus stop murals press conference. Photo by Graham Kilmer.
The Milwaukee County Transit System recently added 24 new bus shelter murals around the county as part of the City of Milwaukee’s Pop Spots program, which has put family-friendly installations and spaces around the city that children and families can interact with, supporting early childhood development.
At a press conference Tuesday, partners on the project, which include Milwaukee Public Schools, the City of Milwaukee’s Office of Early Childhood Initiatives and local advertising agency BVK, explained that the primary goal of the project was to create interactive murals at the bus shelters that stimulate young children, and hopefully contribute to their cognitive and educational development. The event was held at a bus stop at the intersection of N. 64th St. and W. Silver Spring Dr.
Dea Wright, director of the city’s Office of Early Childhood Initiatives, said, “I want to invite, encourage and welcome every business, organization, anyone living, playing in our city to, ya know, do their part… to create these mighty, small moments for our children”
Mayor Cavalier Johnson said, “We’re sharing a very important message today, that getting young people engaged and headed in the right direction early on in their lives is essential.”
Johnson said it’s important that young people are curious and inquisitive about their surroundings and the world. He added that this contributes to the success of the entire community.
“We have to imagine our city splattered with things that help parents be their child’s first teacher,” Wright said. “It’s up to all of us to do that if we’re gonna change the outcomes not just for our children but for ourselves.”
The advertising firm BVK helped design the new murals. Founder and Creative Director Gary Mueller said the project partners “wanted to make sure that all the activities in and around the shelters really engaged the child’s senses.” He explained that, “activities include counting, identifying shapes, objects, colors, foods,” and some involve reading stories, scavenger hunts or physical activity.
Mueller, too, called for more businesses and organizations to partner on the project. Wright explained that all over the city there are opportunities to engage children in early education development outside of the school through these small installations.
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There’s money for this nonsense but not to keep routes in service?