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# Uptown Farmers Market & Pride Street Mural Painting
- URL: https://www.jeffcobeacon.com/uptown-farmers-market-pride-street-mural-painting/
- Published: 2026-09-16T01:55:48.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-16T01:55:48.000Z
- Description: The installation of the mural and sidewalk paintings featured strong community support.
- Author: Rachael Nutting
- Tags: local-news, Port Townsend Pride, gudlife, Jefferson County Farmers Markets, Production Alliance, painted crosswalks, Mural, Rachael Nutting

PORT TOWNSEND, WA — The Jefferson County Farmers Market, Port Townsend Pride, Production Alliance, gudlife, local artists and community volunteers came together this week to create Inclusive Progress Pride Flag crosswalks at Tyler and Lawrence Streets and a colorful Farmers Market-inspired mural along the 600 block of Tyler Street and at the Clay and Tyler crosswalk. 

**A community vision years in the making**

The project is the culmination of years of planning by multiple community groups. Amanda Milholland, Executive Director of the Jefferson County Farmers Markets, explained that the organization had been discussing the street mural concept with the city for a couple of years.

"We were the first group that's gone through the city planning process to be able to get a permit to do this project," Milholland said. She noted that Port Townsend Pride had been considering a Pride crosswalk project for about five years.

The City Council voted unanimously on [May 18 to approve the vibrant new street painting project](https://www.jeffcobeacon.com/the-future-is-bright-and-inclusive-for-uptown-port-townsend-streets/), which features a Farmers Market mural and four Rainbow Pride crosswalks. The project was the first of its kind under an ordinance the city passed in 2021 allowing street painting.

**An inclusive Pride design**

Jason Victor Serinus, representing Port Townsend Pride and gudlife, spoke emotionally about the significance of the rainbow crosswalks on May 18\. He noted that, unlike traditional pride flags, which add a triangle for transgender and BIPOC communities as an "afterthought," this design integrated those colors throughout.

![Jason Victor Serinus, paints one of the Tyler Street crosswalks.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/a2/c6a241c6-69f5-450c-9fd7-6b170730e448/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-93e625e1-a4c8-44cb-b0d5-0b6784dbe971.jpeg)

**Jason Victor Serinus, representing Port Townsend Pride and gudlife, paints one of the Tyler Street sidewalks. Photo by Rachael Nutting*

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

The design highlights the chevron, which was added in 2018 onto the side of the traditional rainbow stripes to represent marginalized members of the LGBTQ+ community. Rather than being added to the end as an afterthought, Serinus said, the crosswalks feature the chevron at both ends and in the center.

**Council response: "Joy as resistance"**

In their May 18 meeting, 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."

Deputy Mayor Owen Rowe called both murals "beautiful affirmations of community values," noting that the council received overwhelmingly positive public comments.

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," Howard recalled, "and found the part of town where there were rainbow crosswalks, and I felt safe. I felt at home."

![Mayor Amy Howard stands in front of the crosswalk at Lawrence and Tyler streets in her matching rainbow colors.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/a2/c6a241c6-69f5-450c-9fd7-6b170730e448/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-44d4f931-1b20-400f-b4b3-caf81f420d5c.jpeg)

**Mayor Amy Howard stands in front of the sidewalk at Lawrence and Tyler streets in her matching colors. Photo by Rachael Nutting*

**Volunteers bring the vision to life**

Community volunteers were encouraged to join the painting effort. On Tuesday, September 8, volunteers cleaned the roadway, chalked out the designs and began painting. Wednesday, September 9, was the primary community painting day, followed by final painting and touch-ups on Thursday, September 10\. Volunteers of all ages and abilities were welcome—no painting experience was required.

The community response exceeded expectations. According to organizers, more than 100 volunteer positions were filled online, with many more showing up in person to help.

Reflecting on the community's involvement, Kellen Lynch with the Production Alliance, said: "The project already feels like a success because I see people of all ages and backgrounds out here, from folks who have lived here for 40 to 50 years to folks who are just arriving. I think that's the spirit of public art—to bring people together to make a public place feel like home."

![Kellen Lynch paints the Farmers Market mural in the center of Tyler Street.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/a2/c6a241c6-69f5-450c-9fd7-6b170730e448/content/images/2026/09/data-src-image-48e8aec3-6fa6-4219-bcac-049f75284752.jpeg)

**Kellen Lynch paints the Farmers Market mural in the center of Tyler Street. Photo by Rachael Nutting*

Milholland shared a moment that held particular meaning for her: "My mom was here, who uses a walker, and it was really fantastic to see her getting support from friends and neighbors to get down and be able to paint."

Danielle Fodor, who helped with the installation, described the experience as emotionally and creatively intense.

"Mural installation is a roller coaster," Fodor said. "The highs are really high, and there are always a few crisis points where you're not sure things are going to work out. And then you learn how to practice the muscle of making decisions with your community—sometimes with people you've known for years, sometimes with people who you just met. The beauty of the art, the color and the joy also brings you closer to each other. So it's always an honor to be part of a mural project."

**A lifelong dream realized**

For Kerri Kitaji, who designed the Pride crosswalk, the project held deep personal significance. 

"I'm so excited to be a part of this project," Kitaji said. "Growing up, there was really nothing queer that you could see around town. Having been part of Port Townsend Pride for the last six years since I've lived here, I dreamed of doing this crosswalk years ago when I volunteered for Olympic Pride. But the application process and the whole thing seemed like too big an undertaking. So I was so excited when we found out Amanda from the Farmers Market wanted to do this project, and we were able to come together and collaborate."