Bland versus Interesting

Why are our streets, paths and walkways so mundane?

What is enticing about our pedestrian paths beyond being flat & firm under foot?

A multitude of Council-erected parking regulation and directional signs intrude on the streetscape.

The roads have been hi-jacked as linear carparks.

Where Council places the occasional bit of vegetation a.k.a. public gardens, these are heavily influenced by watering, mowing, durability and road traffic considerations.

Fair enough considerations when taken in isolation, but there can be a better result with a bit of imagination and effort.

Some cities make a feature of public art - think of Barcelona which creates massive international tourism based on public art.

We can dream smaller about local benefits - a sense of place, an identity, a reason for walking our neighbourhood.

An antidote to the architecture that multiple occupancy dwellings is bringing to our homeland.

There is ample opportunity for local communities to bring art and interest to public spaces.

Trails, nodes, clusters - along lanes, at railway stations, in shopping strips, along parkland movement corridors.

Larger pieces to be viewed from trains - don't let drivers on freeways have all the fun!

Get our community outdoors, exercising, talking.

Get our local artists involved.

Get our community involved in art workshops.

Contrast the 1950 Eaglemont Station - bland, sterile - with the new Rosanna Station. Even the reformed bridge abutments by Burgundy Street get artwork incorporated, and our 1888 Odenwald bridge gets pigeon droppings and graffiti.