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Bikers on John Nolen for Ride the Drive.
City of Madison

Art installed along Atwood Ave. multi-use path as part of Percent for Art program

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Crews install new artwork medallions on the multi-use path along Atwood Ave.

People biking, running and strolling along Atwood Avenue will notice some new artwork on the paths near Olbrich Park as several designs are in the process of being installed on the multi-use path.

The medallion designs encourage users to be courteous on the path that runs along the recently reconstructed Atwood Avenue, with messages like “Leave Space When Passing,” “Take Care, Be Aware,” “Slow Down for Others,” and “Keep Our Paths Clean.”

  • Crews install new artwork medallions on the multi-use path along Atwood Ave.
  • Crews lay down pieces of new artwork on the Atwood Ave. shared use path
  • One of the new artwork medallions on the path outside of Michael's Frozen Custard
  • A biker passes one of the new art medallions on the Atwood Ave. shared path
  • Shared path art that says "Slow Down for Others"
  • Crews install artwork saying "Take Care, Be Aware" on the Atwood Ave. shared path
  • New artwork on Atwood Ave. shared path saying "Keep Our Paths Clean"
  • Atwood Ave. shared path artwork saying "Leave Space for Others"

The designs, created by local artist Daniella Echevarria, are modeled after similar stencils from Echevarria the City commissioned in the summer of 2020 to encourage people to practice social distancing at bus stops and bike paths.

The designs were so extraordinary, we didn’t want them lost to spray paint, so we worked with her to simplify them and make them ready for a thermoplastic street markings material as part of the Atwood path.

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Rebecca Cnare, City of Madison Urban Design Planner

The material used for the new art is the same that was used for the Progress flag design that was installed at the top of State Street in 2022.

The art on the paths is part of the City of Madison’s “Percent for Art” program, which requires any capital project of at least $5 million that is funded in part by the City of Madison to have at least 1% of that City funding dedicated to artwork.

It is incredible that creativity is celebrated when Madison invests in new infrastructure thanks to our City’s Percent for Art Ordinance.

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Nick Pjevach, Madison Arts Commission chair

In addition to the multi-use path artwork, poetry passages pressed into nearby sidewalks and utility box art wraps were part of the City’s “1%” for the Atwood Avenue reconstruction project.

One of the things I love the most about our city is the art, and District 15 has so much wonderful public art. (In) any trip down Atwood that’s not in a car, you’ll notice so much. From the poetry on the sidewalks to the bike-ped path medallions, (it) will inspire you and leave you with a sense of nostalgic whimsy! I’m so proud to live here.

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Ald. Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford, District 15

The new vinyl utility box wraps are scheduled to be installed soon. Rachel Durfee’s “Up to me” will be wrapped on a box near Oak Ridge and Atwood Avenue and Chris Murphy’s Paleoelectronics work will adorn two boxes at Walter Street and Atwood Avenue. The sidewalk poetry stamps include poems by former Madison Poet Laureate Angela Trudell Vasquez (2020-2024) and former Madison Youth Poet Laureate Madeleine Bohn (2022-2023).

  • 'Up to Me' by Rachel Durfee will be placed on a utility box on Atwood Ave.
    Image credit: Rachel Durfee

    "Up to me" by Rachel Durfee

    Image credit: Rachel Durfee

  • 'Paleotronics' will adorn one of the utility boxes on Atwood Ave.
    Image credit: Chris Murphy

    Paleoelectronics work by Chris Murphy

    Image credit: Chris Murphy

  • 'Paleotronics' will adorn one of the utility boxes on Atwood Ave.
    Image credit: Chris Murphy

    Paleoelectronics work by Chris Murphy

    Image credit: Chris Murphy

  • Poem by Angela Trudell Vasquez on a sidewalk along Atwood Ave.
  • Poem by Madeleine Bohn on a sidewalk along Atwood Ave.

The “Percent for Art” ordinance was adopted by the Common Council in 2017 and went into effect in 2019. You can learn more about the program and how it works here.

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