Seattle Teens Lead Crown Hill Mural Project for Community

A concrete underpass in Seattle's Crown Hill neighborhood is about to get a colorful makeover, thanks to local teens who are leading the charge and welcoming the whole community to help paint.

Urban ArtWorks is hosting two community paint days on April 25 and May 2 at the 8th Avenue NW and Holman Road underpass. Volunteers can sign up for 90-minute shifts between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and no painting experience is required.

The mural project isn't just a random splash of color. It's the result of careful community input, including surveys that helped shape the design to reflect what neighbors wanted to see in their own backyard.

The real stars of this story are the young people from Urban ArtWorks' Base Crew Youth Program. These teens have completed a mural apprenticeship and now get paid to mentor others while creating public art across Seattle.

The underpass connects Crown Hill and Ballard and sees steady traffic from people walking, cycling, and driving through. What was once just a functional piece of infrastructure will soon become a celebration of neighborhood identity.

The Ripple Effect

This project shows what happens when you invest in young artists and trust them to lead. The teens in the Base Crew program aren't just learning technical skills. They're discovering how art can transform spaces, bring people together, and give them a voice in shaping their own community.

The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods supported the project through its Neighborhood Matching Fund, with guidance from the Crown Hill Village Association. That partnership between city resources, nonprofit expertise, and resident input created the perfect recipe for lasting community art.

When volunteers show up to paint, they'll be doing more than filling in colors. They'll be working shoulder to shoulder with young artists who are proving that teenagers have vision, talent, and the power to brighten their neighborhoods in tangible ways.

Free parking is available near the site, and organizers welcome painters of all skill levels to join.