Painted Fish Slow Down Traffic

Colorful fish, tadpoles, and other marine life took over the intersection of Quinnipiac Avenue and Hemingway Street Saturday, thanks to 30 volunteers who painted an environmental awareness project that also aimed to calm traffic.

Organized by the group Lots of Fish, the volunteers used the reflective street paint to create a bump-out to slow drivers with a straighter trajectory than the sharp turn off Hemingway that has made the crossing notoriously hazardous.

Lots of Fish Director JoAnn Moran said the idea is to refrain cars from cutting across the sharp turn of Hemingway Street at a great speed while also making visual references to keeping the environment clean.

She has been working on several murals for two years in efforts to raise awareness about the need for keeping stormwater clean.

“I’ve always thought that art could be used as a vehicle for benefiting, inspiring, and educating people to do things that we should all be doing,” Moran said. ​“Such as voting, taking care of the environment, and modeling peace. I like to give people the authentic experience of making art and feeling like they contributed to their community. Then after they have participated, they’ll want to take care of their community more.”

This project cost roughly $3,000 in paint and logistics. The Quinnipiac East Management Team (QEMT) tapped neighborhood funds from the Livable City Initiative to support it.

QEMT Vice-Chair Paul Vercillo said that City Engineer Giovanni Zinn and transit director Doug Hausladen helped the team with the project. Vercillo neighbors have been trying for years to calm traffic at the intersection, where drivers often travel at double or more than the 25 mile-per-hour legal limit.

“With persistence, it all came together,” Vercillo said. ​“Today is the fruit of our efforts.”

“This is the most beautiful neighborhood in New Haven. Nothing comes close to it,” said Fair Haven Heights develop Bekhrad said. ​“But the speed, the noise, the accidents, the security issues, the lack of cleanliness all need improvement.”

Elizabeth Cece (pictured) resides in Morris Cove and is a curator for the lobby art gallery in the Lyman Center at Southern Connecticut State University. She worked vigorously for the entire eight hours Saturday. She said that this was the largest painting she had seen Lots of Fish create.

“It’s a very long strip on both streets. It’s so stellar,” Cece said. ​“This is helping to raise the awareness that the city isn’t a dump. This project is raising awareness to people that what goes down those drains and is going into the river comes back to affect humanity. Please don’t litter. Our city is beautiful and we are in charge of taking care of it.”

“This is hand done. It will give them a sense of appreciation and love for the neighborhood,” said QEMT Chair Kurtis Kearny. ​“This screams love and unity. Everyone of different ages are participating. All different races and backgrounds. Working altogether.”

Coloring in the fish next to Kearny was 9‑year old Lorenzo Maldonado. He lives directly outside of the mural on Hemingway Street.

“This is calming, relaxing, and it’s cool,” Maldonado said. ​“I do play games like Fortnite but I take breaks from it as well. I am so excited about this that I don’t even know if I’ll sleep tonight because this is fun. I hope I can do this again.”

Roan Christmann spoke about the dangers of climate change. ​“It’s important for kids my age to know what’s going on because people aren’t taking care of the environment that much,” Christmann said. ​“People will see this painting and know it’s bad to litter.”

Chatham Square community organizer Lee Cruz said that the large turnout of volunteers proved that this is a group effort that the community sincerely wants to push forward.

“I think all of these things will add to the quality of life. I think there’s been an increase in the number of cars since the ​‘80s and a decrease in the ability of the government to keep the road properly striped,” Cruz said. ​“So to do the artwork, it kind of surprises people. And it’s wide, it takes up some of the road surface. It narrows the road and makes people want to take their foot off the gas. That’s what these murals do.”

Passing drivers honked in support as the group painted. Tulani Dial came out of her house on Quinnipiac Avenue holding her 8‑month old son. She said this is exactly what her community needs in order to restore the balance for beautification projects and to brighten up the section.

“It helps to make you feel good about going for a walk. I love that this is a part of my environment,” Dial said. ​“To make you feel good knowing that you have neighbors who care about your community as much as you do.”