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Utica council backs Oneida Square application for Bloomberg asphalt art grant
Summary
The council voted to support a grant application to the Bloomberg Asphalt Art Initiative that would fund painted public-art interventions in Oneida Square; city staff and local groups discussed maintenance, applicant status and a two‑year project timeline during a presentation.
The Utica Common Council voted to support a grant application to the Bloomberg Asphalt Art Initiative that would fund painted public‑art interventions in Oneida Square.
At a Jan. 15 meeting, Anthony Mariswan of the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District outlined the program and said the city would be the grant applicant and the regional MBED organization would likely serve as fiscal sponsor. Local nonprofit Oneida Square Arts District Association (OSADA) and Keep Mohawk Valley Beautiful described hopes that painted gateways, crosswalks or painted plaza areas would improve perceptions of safety and encourage pedestrian activity.
Mariswan said the grant can provide up to $100,000 with no required local match and that the typical project includes a design and outreach phase built into a two‑year project term. Gina Murtaugh, a resident and OSADA board member, told the council OSADA formed in 2021, obtained nonprofit status in 2023 and sees the grant as a way to “make it safe with this grant and with art in the arts district.” Samantha Francisco, with Keep Mohawk Valley Beautiful, said the group has experience running regional cleanup and tree‑planting projects and would help with maintenance and volunteer touch‑ups.
Council members and city staff asked about durability and maintenance. Mariswan said successful applications must include a maintenance plan and that the grant program expects projects to last at least two years; applicants commonly propose a mix of city services and volunteer upkeep, and sealants recommended by the program add longevity. City staff confirmed engineering and parks departments have begun preliminary conversations about infrastructure and lighting near the monument and other sites in Oneida Square.
The council then voted in favor of a resolution supporting the Oneida Square application. The resolution, as presented to the council at the meeting, asks the city to back an application for the Bloomberg Asphalt Art Initiative and to coordinate outreach with OSADA and community partners.
Council and administration speakers emphasized the project is intended as a catalytic, low‑cost placemaking investment rather than a standalone public‑safety fix; they described it as a way to help spur long‑term investment in the neighborhood.
