2021
Dickerson Pike Safety Intervention
The Nashville Youth Design Team is aware of how long community planning projects can take, but they are driven to influence positive change before they complete high school. Catalyzed by the wellness data they collected in 2020, they set out to inspire much needed pedestrian safety interventions on Dickerson Pike. Their installation ultimately resulted in a multi-million dollar commitment from the Departments of Transportation to implement a Complete Streets project in their study area.
PROGRAM
Nashville Youth Design Team
PROJECT FOCUS AREA
Walkability + Safety
ACADEMIC PARTNERS
Katy Morgan, PhD + Kayla Anderson, PhD Candidate
Training their Peers
Since this was the first year that the internship went beyond the virtual sphere, the Team had their first Summer Intensive at Belmont University. To make sure the program continued to be primarily youth-led, the 2nd year members led a training for the new members about the built environment factors, the wellness data they collected, and knowledge gained from local experts.
The Team divided into a few groups, where they chose a wellness category based on the topics identified in their wellness map. The topics they chose were Food Resources, Parks + Open Spaces, Housing, Community Resources, and Transportation. The Team spoke with Nashville residents and community leaders, then recorded podcasts about the issues surrounding their focus.
Data Influences Ideas
Using wellness data, interviews, and publicly available statistics, the student groups created infographics and advocacy campaigns detailing the needs in each zip code they researched. They also created educational resources, policy agendas, potential community events, and op-ed pieces to educate people about youth wellness.
Finally, during Design Week, the students came up with real design interventions that could benefit young people in Nashville. They were each granted a potential $2,000 budget for their idea, provided by the Vanderbilt Curb Center.
The Team learned how to draw site plans and 3D models by hand or using design programs, like SketchUp. Finally, the Team prepared to present their ideas to the public.
Remonda, Team Member and Rising Junior
“I feel ever since we joined the Nashville Youth Design Team, we’ve had an open eye to seeing the actual problems in the city. I just feel empowered now that I have an opportunity to make a small difference, and I want to take it.”
EXHIBITION
Each group presented their ideas to industry professionals and the adults voted on which group’s idea would receive funding to implement their solution. Watch the recording above to see their presentations.
Winning Idea
2021
The Community Resources group, focusing on Walkability + Safety, won the vote for implementation. Through research, they found that pedestrian safety is a big problem in Nashville that should be addressed. According to Walk Bike Nashville, 39 pedestrians were killed by cars in Nashville in 2020 and Dickerson Pike + Hart Lane was the most dangerous intersection. Their design was to paint glow in the dark crosswalks across Dickerson and Hart Lane and illuminate them with beach balls with LED lights inside of them. This idea stemmed from the lack of visibility on Dickerson Pike, especially at night.
This idea was extremely ambitious. It would require the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) approving a Tactical Urbanism Permit on a state road, which had never been done before by the Civic Design Center or another group. However, when the Team presented their idea to TDOT officials, they said that the youth convinced them to take a chance on this. Ultimately, TDOT painted permanent bulb-outs and crosswalks, and the Team actually used colorful chalk paint to draw attention to the intervention. It was a roaring success.
