When art is thoughtfully incorporated in land transformations, it can turn revitalized spaces into places of meaning, connection, and lasting community care.
Spaces tell stories—about the people who live there, the history that shaped them, and the possibilities for the future. In neighborhoods with a history of environmental and social challenges, those stories are often hidden in vacant lots, under asphalt, or behind barricaded fences. Art can change that. When incorporated into land reuse projects, art helps communities reclaim neglected spaces, connect with local history, and shape a future where residents feel proud and invested in their neighborhood.
Genea Foster, Groundwork USA’s Director of Community Planning, leads the Climate Safe Neighborhoods program and supports communities in envisioning and implementing local resilience projects. From murals and climate-resilient art to tactical urbanism, Genea shares how art brings people and places to life.
Q: What role does art play in land reuse and brownfield revitalization?
Art helps communities express their concerns, needs, and desires in regards to land transformation. It gives residents a way to express what they envision for a space. It also reshapes how people perceive underused or neglected places. A vacant lot or chain-link fence doesn’t have to signal “keep out.” When a blocked-off space is enlivened with a vibrant mural or artistic greenery, it becomes a canvas for imagining new possibilities, inviting creative thinking about future potential.
Murals, installations, and other creative expressions can play a powerful role in placekeeping—honoring a community’s history, culture, and environment. When residents see their stories, languages, and identities reflected in public art—whether murals, culinary programs, or cultural monuments—it strengthens their connection to place. This visibility sparks healing, joy, and ownership and transforms sites that might otherwise carry trauma or neglect into spaces of pride, celebration, and inspiration.
For example, at the Stoneview Nature Center in Los Angeles, a striking mural of native wildflowers and Tongva symbols represents the passage of time and the life cycles of generations. Juxtaposed against the Los Angeles skyline, the artwork prompts reflection on the land’s first stewards and their relationship to the native plants—inviting visitors to “reimagine the County’s roadways as lush trails of wildflowers in perpetual bloom.”
Q: What are some ways art can help residents engage with their environment?
Art can be a bridge that connects residents to their neighborhoods. When people see their culture and history reflected in the art around them, it naturally sparks a sense of belonging and makes them want to care for and engage with the space.
Art is a powerful tool for community education. It helps people understand local challenges, process their feelings, and envision new solutions. A visual alone can open conversations, share the history of a place, and make complex topics—like climate change, conservation, and ecology—easier to understand for the people most impacted. Residents can pick up paint, markers, or other creative tools to bring their vision to life. These activities make planning tangible and facilitate dialogue across different communication styles and languages.
Art helps with placekeeping—honoring a community’s history, culture, and the people who shaped it. In New York City community gardens, for example, murals by local artists show neighborhood stories, cultural figures, and local history. These artworks keep cultural memory alive and let residents know that they belong in these spaces.
Q: Beyond storytelling, are there any other benefits of including art in land use projects?
When used strategically, public art can serve as a low-cost climate adaptation solution–especially in areas struggling with heat. High surface temperatures on asphalt and other impervious surfaces can make environmental justice communities—neighborhoods disproportionately affected by environmental risks—especially vulnerable to extreme heat. Through the Climate Safe Neighborhoods Massachusetts’ Cool Spaces for Healthy Places campaign, we’re working with residents to identify neighborhood “hot spots” and co-create solutions that make streets and gathering places more livable.
One of the most exciting things we’ve seen through community science heat mapping is how something as simple as “cool paint”—light-colored, reflective paint—can reduce temperatures. When that paint becomes part of a mural on a crosswalk, roof, or sidewalk, it has multiple benefits. It cools the surface, slows traffic, and enhances safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists. It’s a form of tactical urbanism—small scale, low-cost interventions that improve public spaces. By painting public plazas, pathways, and other hot spots, we’re not only beautifying neighborhoods but also creating “cool corridors” that lower temperatures and make streets safer and more enjoyable to use.
Q: Any final thoughts you’d like to share?
Art shouldn’t be an afterthought. Too often, public art is treated as something extra—something to add if there’s time or space. However, when it’s intentionally planned from the start, art can strengthen every stage of a project. That means planning early, partnering with local artists, and setting aside the time and resources for meaningful creative engagement. Fair compensation, materials, and collaboration all take careful preparation, but the payoff is worth it: art that builds connection, sparks creativity, supports land use goals, and brings spaces to life.
Neighborhood spaces should be places where people feel connected, safe, and proud to spend time. Art helps create that connection, bridging people with their neighborhood and the land itself. When art is thoughtfully incorporated in land transformations, it can turn a revitalized space into a place of pride, meaning, and lasting community care.
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