Recyclable art fuses sustainability with beautification

Oct. 25, 2023 - They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and it’s even better when the picture is public art helping to protect the environment.

Visitors to Belmar can now enjoy a new piece of public art that reinforces a message of sustainability after Lakewood and the Alameda Corridor Business Improvement District became partners to install a recyclable educational art piece above a stormwater drain inlet, the first of its kind in the Denver metro area.

“We are all downstream” is the message of the large rectangular piece featuring fish and aquatic plants. It’s “Alumigraphic” artwork made of aluminum foil-based print media mounted to the sidewalk at the southeastern corner of West Alaska Drive and South Vance Street in Belmar, Downtown Lakewood. The art highlights the importance of keeping contaminants out of the stormwater system in an engaging, durable and aesthetically pleasing way.

State law “requires us to do public education and outreach, encouraging people to not pollute our streams and waterways,” said Alan Searcy, stormwater quality coordinator with Lakewood’s Public Works Department. “We can do that any number of ways. This is one of the ways that is most visible and most effective. When people are walking down the street, they see the message and relate to the message.”

Searcy heard about the new aluminum material and its advantages from colleagues in Colorado Springs, who have found success with it. One of its major advantages is that it is 100 percent recyclable.

“When the life cycle of the sign is complete, we can fold it up and recycle it just like we could an aluminum can,” Searcy said.

Additional, similar pieces will be added in Belmar and elsewhere on the Alameda corridor, and discussions are underway to potentially expand the program along the West Colfax corridor in conjunction with the 40West Arts District, Searcy said.

Tom Quinn, executive director of the business district, said that the project fulfills two of the organization’s main priorities, street beautification and sustainability, in one fell swoop.

“The goals are to beautify the streetscape with colorful public art while informing the public on the importance of protecting stormwater quality,” Quinn said. “The messaging of ‘We’re all Downstream’ furthers sustainability efforts by helping to reduce dumping of pollutants into the storm drains that ultimately flow into our rivers and streams. For these reasons we want the stormwater art pieces in high-visibility locations where lots of people can see, enjoy and learn from them.”