
The John F. Street Community Center in North Philadelphia is
one of six Philadelphia Housing Authority locations to receive
signs and decals to help promote social distancing, hand washing,
and use of masks. Mural Arts Philadelphia created the "Space Pads"
as part of an innovative program to ensure that folks receiving
life-sustaining meals can do so in a safe manner, using visually
these appealing and eye-catching vinyl ground decals. (Photo
Credit: Michael Reali for Mural Arts Philadelphia)
(Philadelphia - May 5, 2020)- Six Philadelphia
Housing Authority sites that serve as meal distribution centers in
response to the COVID-19 coronavirus are getting new
beautifully-designed signs and decals to help promote social
distancing, hand washing, and use of masks.
This spring, Mural Arts Philadelphia created an innovative
program throughout Philadelphia to ensure that folks coming to get
life-sustaining meals can do so in a safe manner, using visually
appealing and eye-catching vinyl ground decals called "Space
Pads."
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has provided
funding to bring the Space Pads to meal distribution sites at six
PHA locations, along with posters and other materials as part of a
campaign to bring beauty and public health messaging together.
"Social distancing is critical to the health of all people
during this health emergency. It is especially important to
exercise precautionary measures, including social distancing, to
limit the spread of this virus. We're most grateful to Mural Arts
and PDPH for including some of PHA's larger developments in this
program," said PHA President and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah.
"Art is a critical lifeline and a powerful tool as we
collectively renavigate public space together," said Jane Golden,
Executive Director of Mural Arts Philadelphia. "We are grateful for
the partnership of the Department of Public Health and the
Philadelphia Housing Authority, and we are thrilled to utilize
these Space Pads to help make food distribution sites safe while
keeping the talented artists who design them employed."
Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said, "The best thing that
Philadelphians can do to help beat COVID-19 is to stay apart. We
recognize that most people are not used to standing so far away
from each other, so anything that we can do to help remind folks to
keep to keep their distance is welcomed."
Mural Arts is installing 20 pads at each site; 10 inside and 10
outside at six community centers including Abbottsford Homes,
Bartram Village, John F. Street Center, Raymond Rosen, Westpark
Apartments, and Wilson Park.
The arts organization has targeted high foot traffic locations
in North, West/Southwest, and South Philadelphia that serve
predominantly African American, Latinx, and/or immigrant
customers/clients for this signage project. Funding from PDPH will
allow installation at approximately 80 more
locations.