Artwork Coming to Downtown Traffic Boxes

3CDC Partners with KCB on Beautification, Graffiti Mitigation Program

Cincinnati, OH (September 28, 2022) – Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) and Keep Cincinnati Beautiful (KCB) today unveiled a new program designed to bring life – and an artistic flair – to traffic boxes located throughout the Central Business District (CBD). 3CDC, which provides clean and safe services in the CBD as part of its contract to manage the Downtown Cincinnati Improvement District, also focuses on beautification projects within the urban core. The organization had been spending a significant amount of time and resources cleaning graffiti from downtown traffic boxes and began exploring options to address the issue. After researching projects in other communities, 3CDC realized the graffiti mitigation solution could double as a beautification and public artwork project. The organization approached its partners at KCB, which has extensive experience and success with similar projects, to help bring the program to life. KCB took the lead on developing creative, engaging artwork that could be utilized as traffic box wraps throughout the center city.

While traffic utility boxes are located at every intersection with a stoplight, they’re often overlooked. Studies have shown that graffiti is less prevalent on public artworks than blank spaces like traffic boxes. As part of the project being unveiled today, KCB and 3CDC will be transforming 21 of these blank canvases into vibrant art pieces, “wallpapered” with imagery representative of the Downtown community. Cincinnati’s iconic architecture, legendary athletes, streetscapes, waterscapes, and – of course – flying pigs are all featured in designs inspired by classic wallpaper. Installation of traffic box wrapping will occur on a rolling basis, and you’ll be able to find them on Elm, Race, Vine, Walnut, and Main streets between Central Parkway and Seventh Street early this fall.

“The Traffic Box collaboration between KCB and 3CDC is yet another example of both organizations working together to bring beauty, art, and community pride to Cincinnati,” said Jonathan Adee, Executive Director of Keep Cincinnati Beautiful.  “We are most well-known for our efforts in reducing litter and blight in Cincinnati’s 52 neighborhoods, but this represents how art is used in our community to create beauty and iconic Cincinnati messaging wherever it can be generated.”

Funding for the initial 21 traffic boxes, all located in the CBD, was provided by 3CDC through its subsidiary Downtown Cincinnati. 3CDC and KCB would like to expand the project to the traffic boxes in Over-the-Rhine as part of a second phase, provided funding can be secured.

“3CDC’s Downtown Ambassadors spend a lot of time removing graffiti from chronically tagged traffic boxes,” said Marissa Reed, Senior Project Manager with 3CDC. “We’ve seen this model work well as a graffiti deterrent in other neighborhoods and are excited about the work we’ve done with Keep Cincinnati Beautiful to bring a little pop of art to unexpected places around Downtown.”

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