LANSING, Mich. – Lions, Tigers, and Bears, oh my! is a phrase that has taken a new turn on Pennsylvania Avenue near Potter Park Zoo in Lansing. Led through the Lansing Economic Area Partnership’s (LEAP) regional ENGAGE placemaking program, the latest piece of permanent public art in Lansing features a whimsical animal themed design, which was painted in part by the local community. Officially unveiled on Tuesday evening, the #Penn4People mural project represents how collaborative placemaking is working to transform the Lansing region into a place that can attract and retain top talent from around the world.

“Across the region, there are so many great placemaking ideas brewing, and there are a lot of people who recognize the importance of placemaking and are ready to contribute,” said Josh Holliday, LEAP’s Placemaking and Tri-County Projects Manager. “But the process of bringing these ideas to life stops many of these projects before they can get off the ground. LEAP’s ENGAGE program helps bring the pieces of the puzzle together and empower communities to take action.”Tuesday evening’s unveiling was the culmination of LEAP bringing together partners including the City of Lansing, the Greater Lansing Regional Prosperity Initiative, Mt. Hope STEAM School, Potter Park Zoo, the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, Capital Area Transportation Authority, Allen Neighborhood Center, Tiny By Design, and local residents to share thoughts on the lasting impact of this project and to inspire future creative community partnerships in the same vein.

“In close proximity to the zoo and Sycamore park, this area on Pennsylvania is ultimately the family-friendly center of the city. We learned from residents that there was great potential to use this bridge as a way to connect the surrounding residential areas with these assets,” said Andi Crawford, Director of the City of Lansing’s Department of Neighborhoods and Citizen Engagement. “The mural is one of many projects that involves the contributions of many residents and partners from across the city. It’s rewarding to see it all coming together.”

LEAP’s ENGAGE placemaking program is designed to assist communities in advancing placemaking projects identified by residents and leaders. In its first year the ENGAGE program completed four projects including Keys in the Cities in Charlotte, Sign Language installed along the Lansing River Trail, The Grand Experience, and the #Penn4People mural.

###

About LEAP