PRIDE CROSSWALK INSTALLATION SCHEDULED FOR DOWNTOWN SPRINGFIELD DURING PRIDE MONTH 2023
June 23, 2023 – For Immediate Release
SPRINGFIELD (MA) — Springfield Cultural Partnership, Springfield Pride Parade and Common Wealth Murals are teaming up to install PRIDE crosswalks in downtown to celebrate Pride Month on July 9, 2023 (Rain Date: August 6).
The PRIDE crosswalk will be installed on Sunday, June 25, 2023 at the four-way intersection at Main Street, Court Square and Bruce Landon Way by the entrance to the MassMutual Center and the William C. Sullivan Regional Visitors Center. Roadways where painting is occurring will be closed to vehicular traffic on Sunday, July 9th between 6 AM and 4 PM (Rain Date: August 6). Road closures include Main Street between Pynchon Street and State Street and Court Street between Market Street and City Hall Place.
Taurean Bethea, founder and CEO of Springfield PRIDE Parade, reflected on this year’s parade and the city’s changing attitudes, “I truly believe the city has this really new energy and the city of Springfield is actually becoming very innovative,” Bethea said. “It’s just gonna make the city look good, and it’s going to make people of the LGBTQ+ community just feel supported and feel as if they are seen. And that is one of our greatest missions as an organization.”
The final rendering was created by Designer & Illustrator Chris Seabrooks with partners’ inputs and will be professionally installed by Common Wealth Murals muralists, Springfield Pride Parade members and Springfield Cultural Partnership (SCP). Britt Ruhe stated that Common Wealth Murals is “very proud to be assisting in this project and excited to work with youth to make this dream a reality”. The Springfield Business Improvement District has supported both the crosswalk design and logistical aspects of preparing for the installation. SCP is the project’s planning partner and sponsor.
“We are grateful to the Springfield City Council for their unanimous decision made on June 13, 2022 to approve our plans to install permanent PRIDE crosswalks on Main Street,” said Karen Finn, Executive Director of Springfield Cultural Partnership. “Springfield Cultural Partnership partners, City leadership and civic-minded organizations are working together with incredibly talented and enthusiastic local creatives and culture bearers allowing for more community-centered art to make its way into this great city,” Finn added.
For more information on project partners:
Springfield PRIDE Parade: https://www.springfieldprideparade.org/
Common Wealth Murals: https://www.commonwealthmurals.org/
Springfield Cultural Partnership: https://springfieldculture.org/
Designer: Chris Seabrooks: https://chrisseabrooks.com
