Community Services Division

Placemaking

Living Streets

The Living Streets program envisions local streets as places where communities can walk, bike, gather and connect. The program offers residents a set of options for activating neighborhood streets to create opportunities for safe community-building throughout the city.

• Neighborhood Block Parties
• Streets as Places

Neighborhood Partnering Program

Through the Neighborhood Partnering Program (NPP) Austin residents can work together to enhance the places they live, work and play. More than 80 community-initiated projects have been completed since the program first launched in 2010.

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Artbox Program

The Artbox Program provides Austin neighborhoods and business districts the opportunity to enhance Austin Transportation’s (ATD) traffic signal (utility) cabinets with community-inspired artwork created by local artists. The program helps to beauty neighborhoods and business districts, encourages civic pride and expresses a community’s special character for others to see, learn and enjoy.

View Artbox Locations

Safe Routes to School

The Safe Routes to School program helps children choose human power to get to school. Through crossing guards, education, outreach, and infrastructure projects, we aim to make sure elementary and middle school students across Austin can walk, bike, and roll safely.

Crossing guards

The City of Austin's Safe Routes to School Crossing Guard Program provides adult crossing guards to help young students safely walk and bike to and home from school. Each crossing guard receives thorough training about their specific duties, local traffic regulations, and crossing techniques. Safe Routes employs over 200 crossing guards and crossing guard supervisors at 97 elementary schools throughout Austin ISD and in six neighboring school districts.

Education and Training

The Safe Routes to School Education Team teaches pedestrian, bike, bus and train safety to parents and students all around Austin. Trainings include:

• Daycare Training - 30 minute interactive session conducted in the classroom by two safety trainers. Children will practice crossing the street on a cloth crosswalk and learn a safety poem and song.
• Pre-Kindergarten Training - 10 minute English and Spanish presentation in the classroom with a 15 minute walk to the nearest crosswalk.
• Kindergarten through 6th Grade Training - Taught through PE classes, each training is tailored to each grade level and lasts about 45 minutes.
• Adult Training - Free training on active transportation, bus and train safety. Available in English and Spanish during PTA meetings or parent coffees.

The Education Team will provide handouts and answer any questions parents, students or faculty have about making active transportation, buses and trains fun and safe for all to use.

Engagement

The Safe Routes to School Engagement Program works with school communities to get students and families excited about walking and biking to school. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, school administrator, or a member of a community group, we can help you plan activities, provide resources, and share digital tools. 

Projects

Learn about Safe Routes to School infrastructure projects near your neighborhood school.