Boston: Urban Canvas

A program in Boston encourages young people to use collaborative outreach techniques to design and paint murals -- and foster community pride in many of Boston's neighborhoods.

1 minute read

July 31, 2004, 7:00 AM PDT

By Connie Chung


Many of the participants of the 'Mural Crew,' a program that encourages young people to design and paint murals in Boston, say that murals are a part of the City's 'common culture.' "Look all around the city, from Roxbury's Dudley Square and Uphams Corner in Dorchester to Jamaica Plain's Centre Street and the South End's Tremont Street, and you see them -- portraits, montages, and landscapes -- on grocery stores, salons, and health centers."

The program has been so popular that community groups, residents and businesses regularly ask the Mural Crew to paint their walls. "Boston's crew has taken a cue from San Francisco, home to 600 murals, and Philadelphia, which has more than 2,400." Program organizers hope one of these days to see the City of Boston organize a mural tour similar to the one in Philadelphia.

Thanks to Connie Chung

Sunday, July 25, 2004 in The Boston Globe

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Sign in front of building for seior services center in St. Petersburg, Fl.

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk

High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.

5 seconds ago - WESH

Boston Red Line train with skyline in background.

Massachusetts Budget Helps Close MBTA Budget Gap

The budget signed by Gov. Maura Healey includes $470 million in MBTA funding for the next fiscal year.

1 hour ago - Smart Cities Dive

View down center of street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Launches Vision Zero Plan

Seven years after the city signed its Complete Streets Policy, the city is doubling down on its efforts to eliminate traffic deaths.

2 hours ago - Urban Milwaukee

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA