Petition Title:
Protect the “Fairy Alley” Mural — Preserve Austin’s Neighborhood Art
To:
Mayor Kirk Watson; Austin City Council; TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams; and the City of Austin Transportation & Public Works Department
We, the undersigned residents, neighbors, friends of the Zilker area, and lovers of Austin’s public art, call on you to preserve the painted street mural known as “Fairy Alley” (between Treadwell Street & Dexter Street) and to safeguard similar neighborhood-painted crossings from removal under the current policy.
Whereas:
The mural “Fairy Alley” was installed in 2015 via the City’s Neighborhood Partnering Program (Wabucy Walk-Bus-Cycle) and has since become a distinctive symbol of our neighborhood’s creativity, community identity, and place-making friendliness. KUT
The proposed enforcement of the TxDOT directive stating that “pavement markings such as decorative crosswalks, murals, or markings conveying artwork or other messages are prohibited on travel lanes, shoulders, intersections, and crosswalks unless they serve a direct traffic control or safety function” threatens to erase our mural and others across Austin. KUT
Removal of this mural would degrade the sense of local identity, diminish the pedestrian-friendly and artistic character of our neighborhood, and constitute the loss of a community asset created through resident engagement.
We believe that the City of Austin and TxDOT can work together to find a solution that preserves artistic expression while maintaining traffic safety — for example through securing an exception, relocating the art, or redesigning the area to both express creativity and comply with safety requirements. KUT
Therefore, we respectfully request that:
The City of Austin immediately delay any action to remove or cover the “Fairy Alley” mural until community consultations have been completed and viable alternatives considered.
The City apply for a formal exception or waiver from TxDOT that allows the mural to remain as part of a traffic‐calmed pedestrian space, or to redesign the alley / crossing in collaboration with neighborhood stakeholders so that the art and safety goals are both met.
The City, in coordination with TxDOT, develop a transparent process for reviewing and approving neighborhood‐led street art and painted crosswalks, with clear criteria for safety, durability, maintenance, and aesthetic/community value.
The City publicly commit to preserving existing neighborhood murals and painted crossings unless removal is absolutely required for a documented traffic safety reason, with advance notice to the community and an opportunity for input.
In signing, we affirm our deep support for local public art, for pedestrian-oriented streets and creative placemaking, and for preserving neighborhood character in Austin. We call on our elected officials and transportation agencies to honor these values and to prioritize community voice in decisions that shape our public spaces.