West Orange Students Paint Street Mural To Slow Traffic Near School

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A group of students in West Orange recently painted a cool-looking street mural that also has another purpose: slowing down traffic near a local elementary school.

Last weekend, the Traffic Safety Youth Advisory Board from West Orange High School created a mural near Hazel Avenue Elementary School at the intersection of Mitchell Street and Glen Road.

The design was developed by West Orange High School AP art students and got a big boost from Elijah Minton, also known as “The Art Alchemist.” Read More: 'Art Alchemist' Helps West Orange Teens Create Mural At High School

In addition to painting the mural, the day included educating the public about the newly passed Safe Passing Law, bike safety skills and "Learn to Ride Bike" classes by EZ Ride, a performance by Royal Strings Orchestra from WOHS, face painting and food trucks.

The project was sponsored by the Nikhil Badlani Foundation and was funded through a grant from State Farm.

The Nikhil Badlani Foundation lent support to the project, praising the community and the high school students for taking a positive step for safety. According to a news release:

“Nikhil Badlani was a bright and talented 11-year-old who lost his life in a motor vehicle crash when a driver failed to stop at a stop sign in 2011. Since that time, his family has rallied the community and legislation to promote safe mobility for all. The foundation has been successful in getting the New Jersey Legislature to pass Nikhil’s Law, which requires the Motor Vehicle Commission to inform teenage drivers on the dangers of distracted driving in the driver’s manual and in the driver’s license examination. It also gives them the option to take the ‘STOP for Nikhil Safety Pledge’ when getting their license. The Traffic Safety Youth Advisory Board at West Orange High School is a program launched by the Nikhil Badlani Foundation in 2018 to empower the students to make a difference in their community. The board’s mission is to evaluate community traffic safety issues, generate ideas for productive change, and develop specific traffic safety improvement plans for consideration.”

“We wanted to do a project that would make our street safer as well as engage the community”, said Anay Badlani, president of the Traffic Safety Youth Advisory Board at West Orange High School.

Other support for the project came from:

Robert Parisi, Mayor of West Orange - "The township of West Orange is grateful for the ongoing work of the Nikhil Badlani Foundation and the Traffic Safety Youth Advisory Board in raising awareness for safer driving. The engagement of the community regarding the painting of this street mural is just the latest example of the outpouring of support for the cause. It however is more than just street art as it coveys an important message that resonates hope far beyond the street corner where it sits. It will hopefully inspire not only the students of Hazel Avenue Elementary school but everyone who sees it to carry the message of hope forward for another generation."

Susan McCartney, West Orange Council President - "It is such a pleasure to be part of the Hazel Avenue Street Art Committee with the Traffic Safety Youth Advisory Board and the Badlani Foundation working on the planning and prepping for months with the West Orange High School Urban Art teacher, Nicole Krulik and students on the design; only to have WOHS graduate and professional muralist & Art Alchemist Elijah Minton transfer the vision to the street! I just wish I could have been there on Monday morning when the Hazel Avenue Elementary students and teachers arrived to see the weekend's worth of artwork."

James Abbott, West Orange Police Chief - "The street mural represents what has always been a rallying point for our entire town since the tragic circumstances befallen upon the Badlani Family. The Mayor and Town Council along with town officials and the West Orange community have always stood behind efforts to support the Nikhil Badlani Foundation and the Traffic Safety Youth Advisory Board to raise awareness in hopes of preventing a similar tragedy from happening to someone else. This latest community project is a shining example of something positive spawning from any parents’ worse nightmare. It truly delivers a message of hope and holds promise to potentially save an untold number of lives by raising pedestrian safety awareness for our community and beyond."

Jerry Guarino, Former Councilman and Chairman Pedestrian Safety Advisory Board - "We are excited to partner with the Traffic Safety Youth Advisory Board and support this first ever West Orange Street Art Pavement Project. Thank you to everyone that came out to watch us paint and the support we received from the West Orange police to help keep us all safe while the project was being painted."

Megan Brill, Executive Director, Downtown West Orange Alliance - "Downtown is very happy to be part of the Pedestrian Safety Board and looks forward to more projects like these that will attempt to calm traffic in our downtown area."

Nicole Krulik, Teacher, Visual-Arts Performing Arts 9-12, West Orange High School - "I am so grateful that my students had the opportunity to be part of this incredible event. Civilizations are understood by the public art they leave behind. We in West Orange are creating a record for current and future residents to illustrate what we care about and what's important to us as a community through our public art projects."

Sangeeta Badlani, Founder, Nikhil Badlani Foundation - "Congratulations to the Traffic Safety Youth Advisory Board for finding a creative method for traffic calming. This project brings art and life together."

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