SAN ANTONIO \u2013 A street safety project in Beacon Hill cleared review by San Antonio\u2019s art commission this week, advancing despite a call from Gov. Greg Abbott to \u201cremove all political ideologies\u201d from Texas streets.<\/p>\n
The project plans to design and install a street art mural project near Blanco Road and Elsmere Avenue.<\/p>\n
Joey Pawlik, the executive director of ActivateSA, said the commission\u2019s approval was conditional. The project could move forward with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) from the city\u2019s Department of Arts and Culture. <\/p>\n
ActivateSA advocates for a safe and sustainable transportation system in San Antonio that considers all users of that system.<\/p>\n
The MOU would need to draw approval from the Public Works and Transportation Departments and the City Attorney\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe aforementioned groups will be responsible for moving our project forward based on engineering \/ safety requirements, which includes elements such as bulbout (sic) shape and colors of the artwork,\u201d Pawlik said in a Tuesday email to KSAT.<\/p>\n
A document the city told ActivateSA could be considered for possible project styles shows a variety of design options, drawing inspiration from similar projects in Tucson, Arizona, and Fort Collins, Colorado. <\/p>\n
The complete design document can be viewed below.<\/p>\n
An arts committee in Beacon Hill selected a neighborhood resident and artist to handle the project\u2019s artwork, Pawlik said.<\/p>\n
Pawlik said ActivateSA was in the process of submitting a signed-and-sealed engineering plan document and a right-of-way permit request. <\/p>\n
What is the Beacon Hill project?<\/p>\n
In July 2025, ActivateSA was one of two San Antonio nonprofits awarded AARP funding<\/a> to tackle projects addressing community needs.<\/p>\n ActivateSA\u2019s projects, rooted in the tactical urbanism trend of “quick-builds<\/a>,” would produce four painted \u201cbulb-outs\u201d on sidewalks around Blanco Road and Elsmere Avenue. Bulb-outs narrow roadways to enhance pedestrian safety.<\/p>\n Tactical urbanism methods often include community-driven, short-term and low-cost interventions to alleviate issues such as traffic concerns in cities.<\/p>\n Pawlik said in October that ActivateSA was \u201cworking with local and state officials\u201d to review how the project could be impacted by Gov. Abbott\u2019s order. <\/p>\n The project is expected to begin sometime before Dec. 15, according to a project description<\/a> on ActivateSA\u2019s website.<\/p>\n The far-reaching effects of Abbott\u2019s order<\/p>\n Buddy Holly\u2019s glasses<\/a> in Lubbock to murals of the Guadalupe River<\/a> in Kerrville are just some of the street art projects facing the governor\u2019s retribution. <\/p>\n Last month, Abbott ordered the Texas Department of Transportation<\/a> to enforce the removal of \u201cany and all political ideologies\u201d from Texas streets, warning that cities that do not comply will \u201cface consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n Non-standard surface markings, signage and signals that \u201cdo not directly support traffic control or safety\u201d are prohibited, according to an October news release<\/a> from the governor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n Symbols, flags or other markings \u201cconveying social, political, or ideological messages\u201d are also banned, the release states, citing \u201cfederal and state guidelines for roadway safety.\u201d<\/p>\n