New walking and biking signs in Downtown Macon highlight businesses, green spaces

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – New signs encouraging people to walk and bike are up in Downtown Macon.

The Macon League of Creative Interventionists uses public art to break down social barriers. The group tries to get strangers talking to each other and build up the community. Their latest project are walking signs you can find in Downtown Macon. They put them up to encourage people to walk and show off group members’ favorite spots downtown.

“We thought this was the perfect opportunity to get people walking around Macon,” said Rachel Hollar, the leader of the Macon League of Creative Interventionists.

Did you know it’s a four minute walk to a barber shop from the Macon-Bibb Government Center?

“Everyone shared their ideas about what their favorite spaces were in Macon,” explained Hollar.

The signs don’t just feature local businesses.

“The library is one. The giant Coleman Hill side is one,” said Hollar.

The Macon League of Creative Interventionists’ new signs can point you in the right direction.

“People drive a lot and we just want people to start walking. We want people to find out about some spaces they maybe didn’t know about before,” explained Hollar.

Every sign has a code in the corner you can scan on your phone using a “QR-scanner” app found free in any smart phone app store. When you scan the code a webpage opens up with directions to the location.

“I think it’s a fantastic idea. Especially promoting the walking culture of downtown. It’s a wonderful place to walk and the signs just made perfect sense to us,” said Will Robinson, owner of Robinson Home in downtown.

Robinson Home is one location featured on the signs. The business’ sign says “it is a 2 minute walk to a cooking class.”

“Instead of saying Robinson Home, we thought that was a creative way to say, hey, you may not know Robinson Home also offers a cooking class,” explained Hollar.

There are 22 signs total starting at the Otis Redding Statue and stretching all the way to Mercer Village. The signs are making the downtown community’s bond a little tighter.

“It’s really just their way of contributing to downtown and making downtown a better place,” said Robinson.

The Knight Foundation helps fund the Macon League of Creative Interventionists. They’re given $100 every month for their projects. Anyone is welcome to participate in the group. Their next meeting is Monday December 7 at 7 p.m. at SparkMacon on Cherry Street.