
“Slow Streets” in San Francisco are generally welcomed with open arms by residents, with signs displayed in windows urging to keep the quiet streets pedestrian friendly. While the streets are still open to cars and other vehicles, the focus is on community building. As a result, runners and bikers regularly choose quiet neighborhood streets for their routes.
Recently, the city’s beloved Slow Streets have gotten a makeover in the form of large-scale murals. So far, five streets have been painted with colorful murals intended to foster more community. The project, titled “Slow Streets, Fast Friends,” was led by SF Park’s Alliance, a non-profit that has produced many popular community events, including Sundown Cinema and the Park Market at Crane Cove. Artists Matley Hurd and Josué Rojas created the murals for the project, and members of the community even helped the artists paint the murals. While the project initially proposed nine murals in total, only five have been completed at the moment.
“The Slow Streets, Fast Friends initiative encourages participatory public art on Slow Streets in San Francisco to underscore their value as community spaces. This pilot program engages community members living on or near Slow Streets by involving them in the installation of mural art on their streets.” Said SF Parks Alliance Capital Program manager Stephanie Troyan.
The large-scale murals cover multiple feet, and each one is unique. The paint is temporary and will eventually wear down, so you want to make sure to see the Slow Streets’ newest additions while you can.
Where to see the new murals:
- Lyon Street: between McAllister & Fulton Streets
- Page Street: between Masonic & Central Avenues
- Hearst Avenue: between Detroit and Congo Streets
- Minnesota Street: between 22nd and 20th Streets
- 20th Street: between Alabama & Florida Streets