A sprawling canvas of asphalt in downtown Cleveland's Gateway District will soon become the backdrop for an ambitious public art project designed to boost foot traffic, enhance safety, and create a more vibrant retail corridor.
Cleveland artist Ryan Jaenke designed and the mural that will be created on Huron Road in the Gateway District.The Cleveland Asphalt Art Initiative will span 15,000 to 17,000 square feet on Huron Road and Prospect Avenue between East 4th Street and East 9th Street. It will be created by local artist Ryan Jaenke through funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies' Asphalt Art Initiative.

The large-scale pavement mural that Jaenke will create is a collaboration between Downtown Cleveland, Inc. and the City of Cleveland. Other local partners in the project include LAND studio and Bike Cleveland.

This Thursday, April 23, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., a Community Meeting will be held at the Downtown Cleveland, Inc. offices, 668 Euclid Ave, Suite 101, 44114.

The meeting will include Jaenke, the project team, and city officials, where the public can learn more about the initiative and share their visions and ideas for the new installation.

Jaenke has more than 20 years of experience working in large-scale public art projects, where he creates visually dynamic installations that connect architectural infrastructure with community identity—transforming everyday spaces into lasting landmarks of civic pride.

Officials say Jaenke’s proposal was original and showed a solid understanding of the Gateway District’s scale—bringing the ability to transform a vehicle-dominated street into a civic experience through color, composition, and spatial thinking.

Jaenke was also chosen because of his commitment to authentic, community-driven art.

"Ryan Jaenke has spent 20 years helping to mold our visual landscape in downtown Cleveland," says Downtown Cleveland, Inc. president and CEO Michael Deemer. "That's part of what makes sure that we have authentic character in this particular project. Our team was instrumental in working with the city and selecting a local artist, and that's something that was very important to us and a great opportunity."

An Asphalt Mural in Saginaw, Michigan by Nyesha ClarkDeemer says Jaenke’s project will be water-themed, although the design details will evolve through community engagement meetings set to begin later this spring.

Bloomberg started the Asphalt Art Initiative grant program in 2019 to fund visual art projects on roadways, pedestrian spaces, and public infrastructure in North American and European cities. More than 100 projects have been completed to date, with the goal of improving street and pedestrian safety, revitalizing and activating underused public spaces, and promoting collaboration and civic engagement in communities.

More than just pretty pavement
While the mural will add some unique visual appeal to the Gateway District, the project is "part of a larger strategy of creating fully connected, seamless retail corridors across downtown Cleveland," Deemer explains, "and the Gateway District is one of our most important retail corridors."

Deemer says the project mission focuses on economic development. "Our greater downtown vision is rooted in improving safety, connectivity, in activation to drive growth across downtown," he explains. "And central to that strategy is creating an environment that makes people want to come early, stay late, linger and walk and explore downtown to support small businesses. That’s exactly what projects like this are designed to do—improve the aesthetics and the physical appearance of the neighborhood.”
Local artists and citizens paint an Asphalt Art mural in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 2021.Additionally, the choice of an asphalt mural is backed by research demonstrating real-world impact. Deemer cites Bloomberg's Asphalt Art Safety Study, which found positive results from similar projects.

"A similar project in Cincinnati increased driver compliance with stop signs,” says Deemer. “A project in North Carolina found a 92% decrease in people feeling unsafe crossing the street.”

Deemer notes one finding that he says is more relevant to Cleveland's economic goals: "Another international example in Kosovo found that a similar project doubled the length of a pedestrian visit," he says. "Think about it—those are all central to our economic goals for downtown. We want to increase safety. We want to increase the time that pedestrians are spending downtown, and projects like this have been shown to achieve those goals in other cities."

Perfect timing
The mural project comes just as the Gateway District is seeing significant development activity in both conversion and residential projects.

"This is an exciting time for a particularly exciting and important part of downtown Cleveland with the Gateway District," Deemer says. "700 Prospect is being converted from offices into apartments, so we have new residents moving into the District; The Rose Building, the former headquarters of Medical Mutual, is being converted into housing and a hotel.

“The Cavaliers are [doing] construction with a new renovation to Meet Me Here Plaza at the corner of Ontario and Huron,” Deemer continues, “and [the immersive entertainment, media, and technology complex] Cosm is under construction.”

Community members watch as artists and volunteers paint a 'Luv Midtown KC' mural in the middle of anintersection in Kansas City, Missouri.New businesses are also coming to the area, adds Deemer. "Urban Meyer’s Pint House, and Tom's Watch [are] moving in on Prospect,” he says. “We want projects like this to be able to support and help drive foot traffic and interest to [the area].”

A group discussion
Before Jaenke begins implementing his artistic vision, community members will have a chance to help shape the project this Thursday. The community meeting is free, but registration is requested.

"[This will] be a community engagement process that will help the artist shape his vision," Deemer explains. "We'll be working with businesses, property owners, and residents to make sure we've got a fully integrated placemaking and economic development strategy that helps create a more walkable, seamless retail district in this part of downtown."

Deemer adds that the Asphalt Mural project will move quickly from concept to completion. "The goal is to have it completed by the end of summer,” he says.

He stresses how excited Downtown Cleveland, Inc. officials are to be working on this project with Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Asphalt Art Initiative.

"It's a real feather in the cap to the city of Cleveland, and in downtown Cleveland, to have this partnership and to be able to help implement a project like this in our downtown,” he says.