While working at Glass House Collective, Teal Thibaud led a multidisciplinary team, including Bloomberg Philanthropies, City of Chattanooga, Chattanooga Design Studio, local artists and designers, and community members, to envision the future of a neighborhood through a Planning-by-Doing workshop. 

Small teams of artists and residents designed and implemented creative interventions to address priorities that were previously identified by residents:

• beautify the area and promote walkability

• create a gathering place near the grocery store

• provide safe routes from the elementary school to the recreation center

Interventions included the creation of a parklet, an art installation featuring quotes and ambitions from community members, an outdoor gallery of students’ artwork and painted stencils of the school’s mascot along the safest route.

The parklet, dubbed the Love Park, featured creative seating, shade umbrellas, lighting, native plants, and an art installation with large wooden letters that spell LOVE functioning as sculptural seating that spell LOVE. The Love Park was activated through a series of live music and art events designed to highlight the assets of the neighborhood. 

In addition to the management of the workshop and tactical projects, Teal oversaw two new murals at the Gateway intersection. A community-informed asphalt mural was installed next to the Love Park, in partnership with the City of Chattanooga and Bloomberg Philanthropies. Using feedback from residents and other stakeholders, muralists created three design concepts and community members chose their favorite. An additional mural was painted on the side of the grocery store featuring fresh produce that incorporated the input of local youth.