New Kensington planners support proposed downtown art project

New Kensington planners recommend approving a proposed project that would decorate a downtown alley and two intersections with artwork.

The city’s planning commission voted 3-0 Tuesday in favor of the “Art in the Alley” project for Ivy Alley and the painting of crosswalks on Fifth Avenue at Eighth and 10th streets. Commission members Michael Keyes and Randi Shank were absent.

The project is proposed by the New Kensington Arts Center and New Ken Downtown Partnership.

“Personally, I am thrilled,” said Jamie Smittle, vice president of the arts center. “I think it is going to be such a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. It makes me happy to know the city can see our vision and they’re on board with it.”

Commission Chairman Richard Bruni called their presentation professional and well-done.

“We all congratulate you on this project,” Bruni said. “We would like to see it go.”

The project will advance to city council for final approval in September, city engineer Tony Males said. The council voted in support of the concept at its Aug. 1 meeting.

While the project aims to decorate all of Ivy Alley between Fifth and Fourth avenues, the planning commission’s recommendation applies only to the section between 10th Street to the municipal parking lot.

The art in this section of the alley would have a nature theme.

Males said officials could judge the project by this “small bite” and see how it works out.

“I think it’s a positive for the city,” he said. “Everybody is hoping it will be expanded.”

Further, the approval covers only the art projects contained in the two groups’ presentation. Any art installation that is later desired to be placed in the alley that was not included, or differs significantly, would have to be submitted to the planning commission for review and final approval from city council.

The presentation to the planning commission, given primarily by Smittle, included additional examples of art projects that were not contained in the initial presentation to city council.

Examples included paintings of butterflies, birds, flowers and vines; photos of sunflowers and lightning over the New Kensington Bridge; window frames with potted plants; a metal box and pipes painted to look like a box of macaroni and cheese; and interactive installations such as a xylophone, wind chimes and a bean bag game using old tires painted like flowers.

“There’s a lot you can do with recycled materials,” Smittle said.

The crosswalk project would see the intersection at Fifth Avenue and 10th Street decorated with musical imagery, while the one at Fifth and Eighth would have a four seasons theme. Other ideas would incorporate the city’s history.

The crosswalks would be spray-painted using stencils, which would make it easy for them to be touched up as they wear and fade over time. A sealant and nonskid coating also would be applied.

The alley art, made from waterproof materials, would be maintained by the community and building owners.