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Tactical urbanism: What is it and where can you find it in Nashville?

NDOT’s new tactical urbanism program, which supports temporary community-led transportation projects, has us digging into the concept’s role in Music City.

A crowd of people fill a street as they work on painting a crosswalk to resemble the Pride flag.

Nashvillians came together in June to paint the city’s first rainbow crosswalk at the corner of 14th Street and Woodland Street. | Photo via Mayor Freddie O’Connell

From PARK(ing) Day to Nashville’s rainbow crosswalk, tactical urbanism can be seen in various forms throughout Music City — and it’s only growing.

This week, NDOT launched a new tactical urbanism program. We’ll have more on that below, but first...

What is it exactly?

These community-driven projects are often temporary, low-cost, and scalable initiatives aimed at improving public spaces. Think: parklets, open streets, pop-up parks, and even Little Free Libraries.

Applying for funding + permits

First, get familiar with the concept using this guide. Next, your community organization or neighborhood group can fill out the application, detailing your project, before emailing the completed form.

Applications are reviewed (and funded) on a quarterly basis with the next deadline coming up on Monday, Aug. 19. Officials will select four projects for the program’s first cycle, which will be announced by mid-September.

If you’ve already planned your project and secured funding, you’ll still request installation approval via the form and process above — just mark “no” on the first question.

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