In 2015-2016, Prosperity Indiana facilitated a Quality of Life planning process for the North Anthony Corridor Group in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The North Anthony Corridor is a commercial corridor surrounded by residential neighborhoods and book-ended by educational institutions. Funding for the Quality of Life plan was provided by Prosperity Indiana member Brightpoint.

"Quality of Life plans are great tools for creating a shared community vision and understanding how the public, private, and philanthropic sectors will come alongside residents to implement the goals that will result in the vision. The plans are implemented in big and small ways every day in the neighborhoods that have engaged in Quality of Life planning," said Rose Scovel, Director of Planning Services at Prosperity Indiana.

Throughout the planning process, residents emphasized the importance of placemaking and beautification to attract people to the area. Since there were a number of bare concrete walls, residents identified murals as a strategy to realize this goal. After meeting their fundraising goal, the North Anthony Corridor Group is now ready to roll out the murals project, designed by artists Jerrod Tobias and Paul Demaree.

"Murals ... have an intangible quality that draws people together to consider and redefine their sense of place. These particular designs are meant to encourage us as viewers to nurture our connections with our urban and natural environments while offering us all a public safe space to reconcile the ongoing questions of what it means to be a community," writes Allison Demaree-Coale, North Anthony Corridor Board Member, in a Patronicity blog. North Anthony Corridor is joining communities worldwide using public art to engage residents, attract visitors, and strengthen sense of place.

"I had the pleasure of working with the North Anthony Corridor Group in 2015-2016 to facilitate a Quality of Life planning process. Placemaking and beautification were key strategies for realizing their vision of the Corridor as a 'vibrant hub connecting thriving neighborhoods, diverse businesses, exceptional schools, and nearby destinations,' and I'm thrilled to see this work coming to life as they prepare to add new murals," said Rachel Mattingly, Director of Training Services at Prosperity Indiana.

Learn more and see the mural designs here.

If your neighborhood is interested in Quality of Life planning, please contact Director of Planning Services, Rose Scovel, AICP at rscovel@prosperityindiana.org to learn more.