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Murals can boost vitality, community development in cities

Cities across the U.S. are increasingly turning to murals as tools for placemaking, cultural expression and neighborhood revitalization—and Cincinnati is a standout among them. With more than 300 murals across the city, including 55 in one historic district alone, public art has become a defining feature of Cincinnati's streetscape.

Now, a new study published in the international urban design journal offers fresh insights into how murals contribute to vibrant, walkable neighborhoods. The study is led by Hyesun Jeong, assistant professor of urban design in the University of Cincinnati's School of Art at the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP).

"Murals are associated with higher foot traffic, underscoring their ability to attract people and energize public spaces," Jeong says.

The study, which began in 2023, looked at how murals fit into Cincinnati's neighborhoods by analyzing maps and data on foot traffic, crime and local populations.

"It's rewarding to see this research project come to fruition," Jeong says. "More importantly, I hope the findings can help citizens, organizations and city officials better understand the social and economic impact of public art—and contribute to making Cincinnati an even better place."

The findings come at a pivotal moment for cities seeking low-cost, high-impact strategies to foster walkability, cultural identity and neighborhood vitality, says Jeong. The research provides actionable data, she says, that can inform urban policy, guiding decisions about where and how to invest in public art to achieve broader community development goals.

The key findings:

• Murals cluster near vibrant urban features: Murals are strongly associated with food-related businesses (like restaurants and cafés), retail shops, cultural venues (galleries, theaters), historic landmarks and transit hubs. They are rarely found near vacant lots or auto-related sites.
• Linked to revitalization—and signs of gentrification: Areas with murals tend to have denser housing, more college-educated residents and higher rates of walking to work. These areas have seen faster increases in income, rent and home values from 2010 to 2020, though they still show higher vacancy rates and slightly lower median incomes than non-mural areas. Artist populations also remain more concentrated in mural zones.
• Murals boost foot traffic: Even after accounting for demographic and density factors, murals are significantly linked to increased pedestrian activity—suggesting they help draw people to public spaces.
• No link between murals and crime: The study found no statistically significant relationship between murals and either violent or nonviolent crime rates.

Cincinnati's public art scene has garnered national attention, recently earning the No. 1 spot on U.S. Today's 2024 list of top U.S. cities for street art. From colorful staircases near the UC campus to iconic works like the UC Alumni Association's "Boldly Defining Next" mural on a major thoroughfare, murals serve not only as visual landmarks but as catalysts for economic and cultural growth.

However, the study also cautions that as neighborhoods revitalize, issues like rising property values and displacement may follow. To address this, Jeong suggests strategies for balancing cultural development and affordable housing for residents and artists.

The research, Jeong says, underscores the growing importance of public art in shaping cities—not just aesthetically, but socially and economically.

"When embedded in thoughtful urban design," she says, "murals can help cities build vibrant and culturally rich public spaces."