Murals have appeared on five traffic signal boxes around the city recently, in an effort to reduce the amount of graffiti happening in certain locations.
The graffiti abatement program is paid for by the city to discourage vandalism.
"The program was started to act as a preventative graffiti approach," said Jennifer Whittley, Right Of Way Activities Technician at the City of Barrie.
"Once a mural is created on street furniture that is tagged frequently, it acts as a deterrent and the vandalism tends to stop. Street art murals also promote local community, culture and history."
The new locations are:
- Duckworth and Rose Streets
- Dunlop and High Streets
- Fred Grant and Dunlop Streets
- Dunlop Street and Clapperton
- Livingstone Street East and Stanley Street
Artists were paid to create landscapes murals, representing the four seasons.
Each one includes notable landmarks, such as the waterfront.
The traffic cabinet at Dunlop street and Fred Grant Square will designed around the city's historic post office.
Mural art was discussed with the artist prior to work beginning, to ensure the image will be in tune with the local community, history and culture.
"It can become very costly to keep removing graffiti in highly vandalized areas," said Whittley.
Graffiti located on street furniture owned by utility companies or Canada post, the utility company removes it at their own cost.
While graffiti vandalism is a big problem in all cities, Jennifer says Wards 1 and 2, including the downtown core and neighbourhoods near Georgian College, are targeted more than other areas of Barrie.
"The City of Barrie works diligently to remove graffiti in a timely matter and to encourage the increased reporting of graffiti," Whittley said.
