Healing a Neighborhood with Paint and Possibility
In Harrisonburg, Virginia, a small but significant change is unfolding on North Mason Street. What might look like a simple traffic detour is, in fact, the beginning of something bigger—a temporary redesign meant not just to improve a road, but to rebuild trust between a city and its residents.
“What we’re trying to do is reconnect the northeast neighborhoods and downtown,” council member Monica Robinson said. “We’re really trying to look at the best way to use North Mason street so that we can bring those together. We don’t need the double lanes.”
Rather than relying solely on planning meetings or design renderings, city staff opted for a demonstration approach: change the space, even temporarily, and invite the community to experience it. As the new layout takes shape, Harrisonburg is collecting both hard data—traffic speeds, counts, turning behavior—and softer input, like how it feels to move through the street now. City staff are inviting comments throughout the duration of the project.
It’s an example of what urban design advocates often call “tactical urbanism,” or using short-term changes to test long-term ideas. It’s also a model that cities like Jersey City have used to great effect: temporary traffic-calming projects there have led not just to permanent redesigns, but to measurable reductions in injuries and stronger community relationships.
In Harrisonburg, this isn’t just about traffic—it’s about trust. Temporary barriers and cones are being used not to block people out, but to draw them in. Closed sections of the road are evolving from places for fast traffic into places where people can gather, interact, and share ideas about what their city can be.
This approach—inviting residents to help co-create change rather than simply reacting to it—has helped Harrisonburg stand out. The city was recently named a finalist in this year’s Strongest Town Competition, a recognition of its commitment to bottom-up reform, neighborhood strength, and thoughtful urban development.
Harrisonburg has been transforming underutilized lots into community spaces. Before.
After.
The work isn’t done, but the effort signals a shift in how the city approaches growth: by listening first, experimenting together, and designing in ways that build confidence and connection.
If you believe more cities should listen first, test ideas in real life, and build trust from the ground up, you’re not alone. Strong Towns is a movement powered by neighbors, advocates, and local leaders who are proving that meaningful change doesn’t have to start at the top. Join us and be part of a growing network committed to making places stronger and more resilient—one small step at a time.
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