You never know what you’ll come across in Lexington when your face isn’t buried in your phone. That’s exactly how this story came to be when I, City Editor Molly, stumbled across a pink storm drain while downtown one Sunday morning.
We might not notice storm drains (or even realize their true purpose). I spoke with Jennifer Myatt, an Environmental Initiatives Specialist with the city, who shared how the Barbie-themed storm drain came to be and how you can adopt a storm drain.
The why
“Storm drains are part of our storm water collection system. We don’t want litter, trash, yard waste, or anything [going] into our storm drain, because those go directly into our creeks,” said Myatt.
That’s why the city is encouraging people to participate in the storm drain mural program, to bring awareness and share their own no-pollution messages.
There are two ways you can make your mark on Lexington’s streets: volunteering to stencil or with an artistic submission.
Stencil
When you volunteer to stencil a storm drain, Live Green Lexington will provide you with a map to choose from the 20,000 options. You’ll also receive a full stencil kit that includes:
- Spray paint
- Traffic cones + safety vests
- Environmental messaging stencils
Artistic approach
You can also flex your artistic muscle by submitting your own design for a storm drain for approval.
- Art sketches + messaging should be submitted for approval two weeks prior to painting
- You must get permission if you’re planning to paint in a neighborhood or in front of a business
Pro tips
- Storm drains must be on public property — no parking lots or on UK’s campus.
- Remember the why — no pollution in our waterways.
- Don’t paint over yellow markings
Need some inspo? Here’s a map to some colorful concrete creations around town.