INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Department of Public Works (Indy DPW) is accepting applications for the Tactical Urbanism and Art in the Right-of-Way programs, which now feature a 50/50 cost share component and a lending library of available materials as part of the department’s expanded Community Powered Infrastructure initiative.
Tactical Urbanism is a program that allows communities to test infrastructure changes in their neighborhood through low-cost, temporary projects. The community will work with the City to develop a hypothesis and collect data both pre- and post-project implementation to see whether these proposed changes would be effective solutions to the issues they are facing. You can see past examples of Tactical Urbanism projects on 86th Street in Nora and on 10th Street in Community Heights on social media.
Art in the Right-of-Way is a program that allows communities to celebrate their unique identities by using art within the City right-of-way for placemaking within their neighborhoods. This program offers a unique way to build community bonds and have been found to have traffic calming effects.
Last month, Indy DPW placed an additional order for $40,000 of materials to help expand the lending library that was originally established in summer 2024. These materials are accessible to communities with an approved CPI project and can be used to help bring costs for tactical urbanism and art in the right-of-way projects down even further. Some of these materials include: water barriers, a-frame barriers, traffic cones, traffic flags, and paint rollers. These materials are meant for temporary use, meaning they must be superficial as to not damage the existing infrastructure.
All Tactical Urbanism project ideas will be eligible and considered for the 50/50 cost share. Asphalt art and other paint related art projects will be the only Art in the Right-of-Way projects eligible and considered for the 50/50 cost share. The application window for Tactical Urbanism and Art in the Right of Way Cost-Share projects will be open through Aug. 30, 2025.
For more information about these programs, please visit www.indy.gov/activity/cpi