Art as infrastructure: Why murals, utility boxes, public installations matter to Eugene

What do you do when the zombies arrive? In Eugene the answer is obvious – you close the red gate in the Parcade. And if things on the internet are to be believed, you’ll see pictures of “zombies” hanging out by that very gate or sometimes on the rare occasion dancing their way down the stairs to Michael Jackson’s Thriller. And on those zombie free days, that sign and bright red gate elicit smiles and the occasional selfie as people go about their daily routines. What was once just a stairway in a parking garage, a space traditionally filled with the echoing footsteps of quickly moving people, becomes an experience and an anchor in civic identity. This becomes a reflection of who we are – a community of people smiling as we walk down the steps and into the city. All thanks to a great idea from a parking employee and a thoughtful investment in public art from the City of Eugene. 

The zombie apocalypse sign may have put Eugene’s parking program on the national map for its creative approach, but it is only one example of how public art is shaping our city. The “Step into Poetry” installation took place next. This collaboration between WordCrafters, the City of Eugene, and with support for the tech sector, demonstrated an immediate increase in foot traffic as people made their way through to read the poetry, linger for conversation, and activate the stairwell. The increase in traffic not only enhanced safety but led to a reduction in the maintenance and custodial issues in those stairwells. 

That’s the unseen magic of public art. It shapes how people move and engage in our shared spaces. And when thoughtfully applied, it becomes part of a broader ecosystem that helps to shape pride, safety, investment, and economic behavior. In Eugene, public art is increasingly functioning as civic infrastructure with clear benefits. 

Art has become an expected part of our public spaces in Eugene. Decorated traffic boxes pop up with regularity, shifting the walking patterns of pedestrians, and reducing tagging and its associated clean up costs. Murals create reasons to slow down, explore, and spend time downtown. The Mayor’s Art Show showcases incredible selected works at City Hall, demonstrating the vibrant local artists in a way that is open and accessible to the public. And public art partnerships, like the Contemporary Indigenous Art Gallery created in partnership with Don Dexter Gallery and the Hult, bring high-caliber contemporary Native and Indigenous artists to the heart of our community conversations. 

The 20×21 mural project may have started in response to Eugene hosting the 2022 IAAF World Championships, but its legacy has been long lasting. Not only did the project bring a host of international artists to Eugene to help paint our community as arts-forward, but it also paved the way for increased opportunities for local artists, viable economic impact as tourists and neighbors alike join self-guided tours and pop in to support local businesses along the way. These murals still generate tourism today and have become destinations, even pulling people off the interstate for a quick mural tour in Eugene. 

These investments in public art have a tangible return. When utility boxes are covered in art, there is a reduction in graffiti. When a stairwell includes a gate to close just in case of zombies, we don’t just laugh, we feel safer. When a mural goes up, people show up to walk through neighborhoods. When the community pours onto the streets for the Bright Parade, we don’t just light up a dark downtown, we build our connection to each other and our positive connections to this place we call home. 

Eugene has a history of audacious art investment. When the community came together to create the Hult Center, it represented a dream of the arts so much bigger than the reality of its day, but it importantly gave us space to grow into. Today the Hult Center creates a space for local artists to take the stage and acts as a magnet drawing international acts to downtown Eugene. 

Public art alone cannot solve the complex challenges facing our community. But city staff, artists, nonprofits, and business owners increasingly see it as one viable piece of creating spaces people want to use, revisit, and protect. The benefits are clear. An investment in art in the public realm builds belonging, civic pride, and economic vitality. 

But more than that, it gives us the kind of energy that helps us actively imagine our future with our shared voices at the center of it all. In a moment when many cities are struggling to define what draws people back, Eugene’s public art tells a more vibrant story; people gather where they feel invited, connected, and reflected. The murals, utility boxes, sculptures, and light installations scattered across the city are more than decoration. They are signals that this is a city that belongs to its community – and that the community still believes in it.