Service type

Traffic Gardens

Building Lifelong Skills in Physical Activity and Active Transportation

A Traffic Garden is a small-scale streetscape designed for educational programming, skill-building, and active fun. Mecklenburg County Public Health Safe Routes to School program provides resources and expertise to help elementary and middle schools create opportunities for students to safely walk, bike, or roll to, from, or at school.

The combination of physical movement and imaginative fun makes traffic gardens an effective tool for bike and pedestrian roadway safety education.

Locations

Clanton Park Traffic Garden (Open to the public)
Oakhurst STEAM Academy (Not open to the public)
Winterfield Elementary School (Open to the public during non-school hours)
Winding Springs Elementary School (Open to the public during non-school hours)
Ballantyne Elementary School (Open to the public during non-school hours)

Why Traffic Gardens

School Traffic Gardens not only expand the learning opportunities and bicycle practices for students, but they also:

Create a safe, controlled space for learning and practicing cycling skills.
Offer quality educational space to teach children and adults traffic navigation as cyclists and pedestrians.
Promote active transportation and enhancing physical and mental health and well-being.
Builds the skills and confidence to use active transportation for everyday destinations..
Decrease chronic disease and death associated with a sedentary lifestyle.

Questions?

Email: Dianne Thomas, Built Environments for Active Living Supervisor