Testing Safer Streets in South Inglewood
By Eric Hoke, Design Director
2 min read: The Civic Design Center works with South Inglewood Neighbors to install an artistic traffic calming project.
People from left to right: Chase Wilson (Civic Design Center Community Design Coordinator), Brandon Griffith (South Inglewood President), Kellie Lee (Neighborhood Artist), and Joe Mayes (Civic Design Center Projects + Operations Director)
For more than a decade, the Civic Design Center’s TURBO team (Tactical Urbanism Organizers) has worked alongside Nashville neighborhoods to bring community-driven ideas to life. Through temporary, low-cost interventions, we help residents and city partners test solutions that make streets safer, more welcoming, and more people-focused. These projects allow neighbors to try out bold ideas, evaluate what works, and build momentum for long-term change.
Our most recent partnership with the South Inglewood Neighborhood Association (SINA) is a great example of how tactical urbanism can quickly respond to community needs. Together, we transformed the complex intersection of McGavock Pike, Maxey Lane, and Oxford Street—an area that has seen repeated crashes and confusing traffic movements due to its disorganized layout. With several new businesses nearby and an active bus stop at the corner, the intersection has also become an important walking route for neighbors and families.
Design Concept
Student Ideas from South Inglewood Elementary School
Recognizing both the safety issues and new opportunities for placemaking, SINA applied for support through NDOT’s Tactical Urbanism Program. With project funding in hand, residents partnered with neighborhood artist Kellie Lee, who drew inspiration from students at nearby Inglewood Elementary School. Their collective vision became a vibrant, nature-inspired ground mural celebrating the Shelby Park Super Bloom—a beloved symbol of color and life in East Nashville.
The installation includes three painted bulb-outs, strategically placed to shorten pedestrian crossings, calm traffic, and bring clarity to how drivers navigate the intersection. The artwork weaves these safety features together, creating a bright and joyful visual anchor for the community while making the intersection more walkable and easier to understand.
Over the coming months, neighbors, NDOT, and the Civic Design Center will monitor how the changes are working—evaluating traffic speeds, crossing conditions, and overall user experience. Tactical projects like this help everyone learn what improvements should be made permanent, ensuring long-term investments reflect real-world use.
This collaboration between SINA, NDOT, neighborhood artists, and our TURBO team demonstrates what’s possible when community ideas lead the way. With creativity, partnership, and a little paint, South Inglewood is already seeing a safer, more vibrant corner of its neighborhood.
If you’re interested in bringing TURBO to your community or want to learn more about tactical urbanism in Nashville, reach out to the Civic Design Center. Let’s build a safer, more connected city, one intersection at a time.
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