What if the street outside your home could become calmer, safer, and more welcoming, not years from now after a long construction process, but sooner through community action?

That question brought more than 60 neighbors, advocates, planners, and community leaders together at the James Orange Recreation Center in February for Propel ATL’s Tactical Urbanism Workshop. The goal of the evening was simple: help residents turn concerns about dangerous streets into real, testable safety projects.

By the end of the night, participants weren’t just talking about safer streets; they were leaving with ideas, potential project locations, and clear next steps to make change happen.

Interested in launching a Tactical Urbanism project?

What Is Tactical Urbanism?

Tactical urbanism is a way for communities to test street-safety solutions using temporary, low-cost materials before permanent construction.

Instead of waiting years for planning, funding, and engineering, neighbors can pilot ideas such as:

• Temporary walk lanes
• Pop-up curb extensions
• Intersection visibility improvements
• Traffic calming demonstrations
• Safer crossing designs

These projects are typically quick to implement, reversible, and designed to collect feedback from the community.

Cities across the country use tactical urbanism to explore solutions, gather real-world data, and build support for permanent improvements. In Atlanta, it has also become a powerful way for residents to demonstrate what safer streets could look like in their own neighborhoods.

A Real Atlanta Example: Oakland City

One of the evening’s key case studies came from Oakland City, where neighbors recently worked together to build a temporary walk lane on a street without sidewalks.

For years, residents walking along Merrill Ave. had little choice but to walk in the roadway alongside moving vehicles. The tactical urbanism project created a protected walking space using temporary materials, helping demonstrate how the street could function more safely for pedestrians.

The project also highlighted important lessons for communities considering similar efforts:

• Strong neighborhood partnerships matter
• Volunteers and community buy-in are essential
• Coordination with the city helps projects move forward
• Temporary projects can help build support for permanent change

The Oakland City walk lane showed how tactical urbanism can move an idea from community concern to a visible solution.

Inside the Workshop

The Tactical Urbanism Workshop was designed to be hands-on and action-oriented.

The evening began with an overview of different types of tactical urbanism projects and how communities across Atlanta are beginning to test them. Participants then heard the Oakland City case study before moving into small breakout groups to begin developing ideas for their own neighborhoods.

During the breakout sessions, participants worked together to:

• Identify a specific street or intersection
• Define the safety problem
• Brainstorm temporary solutions
• Sketch early project concepts
• Identify a project lead
• Determine one concrete next step

The goal was not to leave with a finished design, but with something even more important: momentum.

Ideas from the Room

Participants brought a wide range of concerns and ideas to the workshop.

Many conversations focused on everyday challenges residents experience on Atlanta streets, including:

• Dangerous crossings near schools and parks
• Streets without sidewalks forcing people to walk in traffic
• Intersections where drivers turn quickly without seeing pedestrians
• Corridors where speeding makes walking or biking uncomfortable

Several groups began exploring project ideas such as:

• Temporary curb extensions to shorten crossing distances
• Walk lanes where sidewalks are missing
• Visibility improvements at intersections
• Demonstration projects to slow vehicle speeds

What became clear throughout the evening was that residents already know where safety problems exist. Tactical urbanism simply gives communities a way to begin testing solutions.

What It Takes to Launch a Tactical Urbanism Project

While tactical urbanism projects can be simple, they still require planning and coordination.

During the workshop, participants discussed several important considerations for moving a project forward, including:

• Identifying the exact project location
• Confirming road ownership (city streets vs. state roads)
• Engaging neighbors and community stakeholders
• Developing a basic concept sketch
• Creating a small team to help organize the project

Participants also learned that tactical urbanism projects must typically take place on City of Atlanta streets, since state-owned roads fall under the Georgia Department of Transportation’s jurisdiction.

Understanding these steps helps ensure projects are both safe and effective.

Centering Equity in Safer Streets

The workshop also highlighted the importance of focusing safety improvements where they are needed most.

Atlanta’s Vision Zero framework identifies Equity Priority Areas, where residents face higher risks of traffic injury and death. Some tactical urbanism projects in these areas may be eligible to receive materials support from the city, helping communities pilot solutions more quickly.

By empowering residents to lead projects in their own neighborhoods, tactical urbanism can help ensure that street safety improvements reach communities that have historically been underserved.

Moving from Ideas to Action

Workshops like this are only the beginning.

For participants interested in moving their ideas forward, the next steps are clear:

1. Submit a Tactical Urbanism Technical Assistance request to Propel ATL
2. Meet with the Propel ATL team to review feasibility and project planning
3. Prepare for the city’s tactical urbanism application process
4. Organize volunteers, raise money, and build the project

For those still developing their ideas, even small steps can help build momentum:

• Confirm your project location
• Talk with a few neighbors or stakeholders
• Draft a simple concept sketch
• Recruit a small project team

The strongest projects often start with a simple idea and a few motivated neighbors.

Building Safer Streets Together

The Tactical Urbanism Workshop demonstrated something powerful: people across Atlanta care deeply about the safety of their streets and are ready to help shape solutions.

Community-led projects like these show what’s possible when neighbors, advocates, and local organizations work together.

Tactical urbanism isn’t just about temporary materials or street design—it’s about giving communities tools to create the change they want to see.

And sometimes, the first step toward a safer street starts with a simple question:

What could this street become?

Together, we can test ideas, build momentum, and create safer streets across Atlanta.