If you’ve ever wandered around the South University neighborhood in Eugene, you may notice something slightly out of the norm. Fire hydrants painted in vibrant colors dot the sidewalks from 18th to 24th, in between Patterson and Agate.
Hydrant painting started when the South University Neighborhood Association, lead by Mimi Kato, initiated the project in 2009.
“I was on my neighborhood board at the time and wanted to do something that was positive and community building,” Kato said.
During her 10-month project, Kato worked on laying out the budget, timing and logistics of how everything would be executed. This included applying for a City of Eugene Neighborhood Matching Grant, which she was eventually awarded, as well as getting the OK from the Eugene Fire Department.
In an effort to embody elements from all community members, Kato searched for residents from all ages and areas. Each group was given a specific selection of colors to work with and instructions on what to create.
“Initially I thought my family would paint a hydrant — we were even drafting our designs — but then there was so much interest we ran out of hydrants and had to turn people away who were asking to paint one,” Kato said.
On its original timeline, the project was anticipated to be executed during the spring of 2010. However, in characteristic Eugene fashion the rain extended the deadline into June of that year.
The project ended up taking about 10 months from beginning to end.
The most striking part of the project may be its inconspicuous nature within the neighborhood. Some local residences who pass by notice the artwork without giving much thought, but upon noticing the hydrants, people approve of the project.
University of Oregon student Cody Thompson is a fan of the hydrant art. “I love em’, I love em’,” he said. “It’s better than all yellow.”
Junior Blake Wolfington also enjoys the hydrants. “It’s cool seeing people taking art to the street,” he said. “I think it shows a lot about the city.”
Yet another feature to the project is its interactive website, which allows visitors to access a map of each hydrant’s location. In addition to the map, the website has a picture with information on who designed each hydrant and the streets on which it resides.
SUNA, however, is not the only group to have taken on this task. Communities throughout North America have initiated different programs to spice up its streets. San Francisco is famous for its golden fire hydrant, while Chicago has taken it to another level by displaying large-scale replicas to be decorated by artists and businesses.
Kato believes in the overall power of community arts projects. For her, they show that, “People are excited about where they live, that they feel a sense of place and connection there.”