New Safety Mural on Madison Street.

By: Markese Barnett 

Residents of the Milton-Montford Community, partnering with HEBCAC, are proud to announce something new is hopping around in East Baltimore catching the attention of residents and drivers alike these days. What is it? You may ask, a mural with three large rabbits rushing full-speed ahead. 

The bright, colorful, and vibrant work of art on the corner of Madison Street and Patterson Park Avenue is an eye-catcher, but it was made to be a lot more than just that. The purpose of the mural is to aid in slowing down traffic. So much so the idea came to the homeowner of the mural Michael Gatty in the form of a random note on his door suggesting a mural dedicated to slowing down high-speed drivers.

Residents and community members in the area have long been concerned about Madison Street being a dangerous main road where high-speed traffic and accidents have become normalized. Being a resident of the area myself I agree with the concerns, as the intersection welcomes so many commuters and foot traffic. The intersection is a mainstay for pedestrians, with Henderson-Hopkins School located just one block away and many children walking their daily commute. A block in the other direction is the busy Monument Street with storefronts attracting many community residents, not to mention Madison Street being a main way to Johns Hopkins and I-83. 

So with that being said, is the mural serving its intended purpose? Bridget Cimino, the artist behind the beautiful masterpiece, seems to think so. Cimino has mentioned receiving a spike in comments from commuters sharing how they’ve taken notice of the mural. Good news for the community inspiring better habits from drivers.

Here’s to hoping more drivers decide to ease up on putting the pedal to the metal and take some time to slow down, noticing the three rabbits running instead. 

This mural project was sponsored by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development as part of a community safety grant and managed by resident leader Jiri Cruz and fiscally sponsored by HEBCAC.

Read the feature on Channel 2 WMAR!