Hardy Drive Bike Lane Project
2024-2025
A community-led project to create vibrant and safer bike lanes on Hardy Drive with murals designed by a local artist.
Photo by Winona Grey
Hardy Drive Bike Lane Project
The Hardy Drive Bike Lane Project was a community-led initiative to create vibrant and safer bike lanes on Hardy Drive. The project involved designing and painting beautiful murals along the bike lanes, making them more visible and enhancing the neighborhood's aesthetic appeal.
This project was completed in March of 2025 with the help of over 50 community volunteers and the talented artist Nicole Poppell.
Project Journey
Planning & Grant Application - Spring 2024
In Spring 2024, the Holdeman Neighborhood Association decided to pursue a bike lane mural project to enhance safety and beautify Hardy Drive. The association put together a proposal, solicited estimates from artists to include in the application, and submitted it to the City of Tempe on April 22, 2024, as part of the Maryanne Corder Neighborhood Grant Program.
Artist Selection - Summer 2024
In July 2024, we received the exciting news that our project was awarded funding through the grant program, allowing us to move forward with artist selection.
Then, from mid-July to early August, the neighborhood held a vote to select an artist for the project. After reviewing multiple talented candidates and collecting community input, Nicole Poppell was chosen to lead the artistic vision for the bike lane murals.
Design Selection - Fall 2024
Nicole created two unique design concepts for the bike lanes, which were presented to the community at the GAIN event at Clark Park on October 19, 2024. The neighborhood then voted on their preferred design through November 22, 2024.
With votes collected from the community, Design Option 1 was selected as the winning concept. Nicole described her approach:
"I have long been fascinated by shapes found in nature. In particular, studying shadows and how they hint at the objects while also leaving room for imagination, creating new shapes that morph into one another, similar to clouds.
For the bike lane designs, I've photographed plants around my yard and translated them into flat patterns using color interaction that interweave geometric shapes."
Installation - February/March 2025
The installation took place in two phases, with work on the east side of Hardy Drive followed by the west side. Nicole led both the artistic vision and the implementation of the project, guiding community volunteers throughout the installation.
Over 50 community volunteers participated, working in shifts under Nicole's direction. The project transformed ordinary bike lanes into colorful, eye-catching pathways that enhance both safety and neighborhood pride.
Project Highlights
- Community-designed bike lane murals
- Enhanced safety for cyclists and pedestrians
- Beautification of Hardy Drive
- Strengthened community bonds through volunteer participation
- Funded through the Maryanne Corder Neighborhood Grant Program
- Part of Tempe's Adaptive Streets initiative
Want to do this in your neighborhood?
The Hardy Drive Bike Lane Project was made possible through Tempe's Neighborhood Grant Program and Adaptive Streets initiative.
Your neighborhood could be next!
About the Neighborhood Grant Program
Established in 1994, the Maryanne Corder Neighborhood Grant Program provides funding for community-driven projects that enhance neighborhoods and build community connections. Tempe offers grants to Neighborhood Associations (NAs) and Homeowners Associations (HOAs) to fund projects for art, sustainable landscaping, park improvements, adaptive streets initiatives and more. Up to $20,000 is awarded to selected NAs and HOAs.
About Adaptive Streets
Tempe's Adaptive Streets initiative transforms public spaces to create safer, more vibrant streets for all users. These projects can include bike lane murals, intersection art, traffic calming measures, and other creative interventions that improve street safety and neighborhood character.
Ready to start a project in your neighborhood?
Contact Tempe's Neighborhood Services at [email protected] or your neighborhood association to begin the conversation about bringing creative street improvements to your area.