At The Y, pavement painting works. Mostly

Today is Tuesday.

Sunday I intentionally drove through Main, Portage and Pierce headed southbound. I had a big smile on my face because I know how much hard work went into the remaking of the intersection by workers and volunteers from the Niagara National Heritage Area.

This morning, I went to DiCamillo’s, pedaled down Whirlpool Street for a ways, and cut back up to Main to check things out.

As I paused to watch the intersection, I saw a woman with her phone out, taking photos.

She was a neighbor from DeVeaux, skeptical about the project. She volunteers at the mission and told me she would be taking photos every 3 months. In her view, salt and plows will wipe out the installation in short order and the whole thing was a waste of money that could be spent more wisely elsewhere.

We stood together in front of the Y coffee shop. As we watched, 3 vehicles in a row northbound from Main Street drove across the triangular mural rather than taking the time to jog awkwardly right toward the library and slow to 5 mph.

The triangle in the middle is the weak part of the plan. If the naysayers want a celebration, there it is. The project, however, still makes a difference and it was not funded by tax dollars. Also, there is an adjacent mural on one of the Main Street buildings that is spectacular.