Crosswalks and Bicycle Improvements at Columbia Park
Setting a new standard for pedestrian safety.
Creswell Avenue sits at the center of daily neighborhood life. It connects Columbia Park, Creswell Elementary School, neighborhood homes, a grocery store, Fat Calf Brasserie (a celebrated local restaurant), and plays host to a major community event: Highland Jazz and Blues Festival.
However, in its past state, Creswell Avenue, with its 20 foot lanes and no visible pedestrian markings, was not a safe road to cross. Before this project, pedestrians crossed wide pavement with limited visibility, drivers moved quickly through the intersection, and bicycle amenities were minimal. A place that should be safe for all was anything but.
To correct this, we partnered with the Highland Area Partnership, the nonprofit which hosts the Highland Jazz and Bluest festival each September to improve the area. The goal was simple and practical. Slow traffic. Shorten crossing distances. Make pedestrians more visible. Add everyday functionality for people walking and biking, while creating space for public art that reflects the neighborhood’s character.
Project Partners
More Than an Improvement. A Test Bed.
From the start, we approached the crosswalks for this project differently. Rather than defaulting to standard parallel striping, we worked directly with the City of Shreveport’s Department of Public Works Engineering division to push for higher-visibility, ladder-style crosswalks that are wider and more legible to drivers. That working relationship began on past projects we have collaborated on and allowed us to treat this installation not as an exception, but as a chance to help set a better baseline for how crosswalks should look and function citywide.
Collaboration extended well beyond striping. Our longstanding partnership with Shreveport Public Assembly and Recreation proved especially impactful. SPAR did more than install equipment purchased with Neighborhood Investment Program funds. They repaired ADA ramps, poured new concrete, upgraded an existing bike repair station, and invested additional resources of their own to improve the park edge. That extra commitment multiplied the impact of the original grant and demonstrated what is possible when city departments are true partners rather than passive implementers.
The project also advances how we think about art in the public right of way. Building on lessons from past installations, this site introduces a third technique. Painted curb extensions are being used to visually narrow what are currently very wide travel lanes between Creswell Elementary and Columbia Park. This subtle change can significantly affect vehicle speed and pedestrian comfort. Because these curb extensions are designed as no-go zones for cars, they also allow us to study how roadway paint performs under ultra-low traffic conditions, data that will directly inform future traffic-calming projects across Shreveport.
Taken together, this project shows how street safety, public art, and inter-agency collaboration can reinforce one another. It is not just an improvement, but a working example of how Shreveport can test ideas, learn in real conditions, and raise expectations for what everyday infrastructure can do.
Project Timeline
Late 2024 - ReForm Shreveport and Highland Area Partnership applied for funding through the Neighborhood Investment Program and worked with city engineers to review and approve the crosswalk and striping plan.
Early 2025 - The project team awaited city scheduling and coordination for implementation of the approved striping plan.
August 2025 - SPAR repaired and upgraded ADA curb ramps at Creswell and Columbia, allowing the city to stripe the crosswalks in compliance with current standards and best practices.
September 2025 - SPAR poured a concrete pad and installed the new bicycle racks ordered for Columbia Park. The existing bike repair station was replaced with a modern unit.
October 2025 - The City of Shreveport painted the crosswalks and curb extensions to the approved specifications. Ladder-style markings were used for greater visibility, crosswalks were painted wider than typical neighborhood standards, and curb extensions were created to slow traffic and provide space for public art. New parking spaces were added between curb extensions to improve functionality and create edge friction.
December 2025 - Art students from Centenary College were engaged to design artwork for the curb extensions, with installation planned for spring 2026.
What’s been accomplished and what’s left to do.
SPAR has installed all-new ADA-compliant curb ramps at the intersection.
Engineering has painted high-visibility, ladder-style crosswalks at Creswell Avenue and Columbia Street which have been widened to improve pedestrian visibility and comfort.
Engineering has painted curb extensions to shorten crossing distances and prevent unsafe parking near intersections.
New on-street parking between curb extensions to increase edge friction and street function
New commercial-grade bicycle racks and all-new bicycle repair station have been installed at Columbia Park.
To complete the project, we are moving into the final activation phase. In partnership with the art department at Centenary College of Louisiana, students have been developing artwork specifically for the painted curb extensions. These designs treat the extensions as connective space between Creswell Elementary and Columbia Park and are intended to be bold, playful, and welcoming for the children and families who use this corridor every day. With guidance from Highland Area Partnership, the artwork also incorporates musical elements that reflect the neighborhood’s identity, the students at Creswell Elementary, and the spirit of the Highland Jazz and Blues Festival. Installation of this artwork is planned for spring 2026.
