Community engagement is a critical & intentional part of Rail Trail projects & initiatives.
Children & Youth
Various projects have included participation from children, youth and families from the Bethlehem Center after-school program that served the Brookhill & Southside Park communities, an often overlooked stakeholder group. In the Rail Trail Mini-Build workshop students were exposed to design principles and asked for input on projects; for the Rail Trail Symphony Project students and families were asked for design and programming input and participated in musical sessions, and for the Magic Carpet Murals Project students learned about colors, shapes and even helped design and paint murals on the Trail.
Students
Local community college students were engaged with to learn about a fun new project, contribute ideas, and design and paint a mural on the Trail for the Rail Trail Symphony Project.
Local Artists
Local artists help make the Rail Trail special. Art by Ron Boozer as well as students from the Holt School of Art at Dilworth Artisan Station was displayed on their building facade on the Trail. Artist Ivan Toth Depeña has work that can be seen at the Steelyard parking deck and at Color Forest.
Broader Community
Artists worked with children, youth and families who attend local after-school program center, from a nearby challenged community and often overlooked stakeholder group, as well as working professionals, young families, and Rail Trail advocates to create designs that informed the design of the Magic Carpet Murals. Community members from across region were also invited to help paint the murals on the Trail. Volunteer interest exceeded expectations!