Youth-led Bloomberg Asphalt Art pilot aims to boost pedestrian safety in Lynn City

RAW Art Works was awarded the Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative grant to install a large-scale mural in Central Square, Lynn City, a project the organization said aims to improve pedestrian safety while centering youth voices. "This is a grant that was awarded to 10 cities around the world and Lynn was awarded this grant," said a RAW representative during the Lin Lowdown episode.

RAW said the work was a formal partnership with the city’s planning department and grew from surveys of residents and workers that informed color palettes and themes. RAW cited a 2022 study by a Bloomberg partner, saying "they found that after bringing public art into the spaces ... traffic accidents that involve pedestrians and cyclists can actually reduce up to 50%." RAW emphasized that the mural combines coastal imagery, local historical figures and industrial references to reflect Lynn City's character.