The Future is Bright and Inclusive for Uptown Port Townsend Streets

PORT TOWNSEND, WA — In a move hailed by supporters as a celebration of community resilience and public safety, the city council voted unanimously on May 18 to approve a vibrant new street painting project for the intersection of Lawrence and Tyler Streets. The project features a farmer's market mural and four Rainbow Pride crosswalks.

The application was brought before the council by a coalition including the Jefferson County Farmers Market and Port Townsend Pride. The project is the first of its kind under an ordinance passed by the city in 2021 allowing street painting.

A matter of safety and celebration

Amanda Milholland, Executive Director of the Jefferson County Farmers Market, introduced the project as a pedestrian safety measure. She testified that for nearly a decade, she has watched drivers fail to yield at the uptown intersection, often blowing through stop signs during market hours.

"I've seen people pushing strollers almost get hit," Milholland told the council. "I've seen people using walkers or slowly walking across the street who are just not seen."

Inspired by traffic-calming street art in Portland, the mural will feature a mandala of a farmer's hands holding the earth, surrounded by fruits, vegetables, and jumping salmon—specifically designed to avoid covering white traffic lines.

Jason Victor Serinus, representing Port Townsend Pride and “gudlife,” spoke emotionally about the significance of the rainbow crosswalks. He noted that, unlike traditional pride flags, which add a triangle for transgender and BIPOC communities as an "afterthought," this design integrates those colors throughout.

Serinus argued that the crosswalks serve as a necessary affirmation amid national political tension. "There are a lot of people in this community who are staying undercover because they're trans and because they feel that there's a target on their back," he said, referencing an emergency declaration by the Seattle LGBTQ Commission regarding an influx of people fleeing red states. 

"The phrase 'We're here, we're queer, get used to it' holds increasing resonance," Serinus added. "This is about all of us, all of us who are minorities."

Council reaction: "Joy as resistance."

Council members strongly supported the project's cultural significance.

Council member Neil Nelson highlighted a comment from public testimony: “Joy is a form of resistance." He added, "That really struck me. Joy, from whatever decision it's coming from, is a statement we need to make."

Deputy Mayor Owen Rowe called both murals "beautiful affirmations of community values," noting that the council received overwhelmingly positive public comments. "Especially at this time, given what happened in Seattle last week, we need to speak up as a community and affirm our values. This is a great way to do it." Rowe was referring to the 19-year-old trans woman who was found dead near the University of Washington after being stabbed over 40 times.

Mayor Amy Howard shared how welcoming it was to find rainbow sidewalks in a city she was visiting.

"I was in a city I wasn't particularly interested in being in," Mayor Howard recalled, "and found the part of town where there were rainbow crosswalks, and I felt safe. I felt at home."

The vote and logistics

The council voted unanimously to approve the application. Arts and Culture Coordinator Katy Goodman noted that the project had already undergone review by the Public Works Department, the Historic Preservation Committee and the Arts Commission before reaching the council.

Serinus explained that because the intersection is slated for utility work, the crosswalks will initially be painted with temporary paint before a permanent installation.

The project is expected to begin in August or September of 2026, after the project budget is finalized. According to Milholland, a fundraiser will be announced in the coming weeks. The project already has some grant funding and individual donations, though it’s estimated they will need between $5-7 thousand dollars to cover paint and materials.