Gallery Alley is a placemaking initiative that transformed an underutilized alley into a bright and colorful public space. This 15-foot wide alley located at 616 E. Douglas Avenue was formerly open to vehicular traffic, which created an unsafe environment for the increasing number of pedestrians who passed by on the sidewalk. In 2017, Downtown Wichita received a grant from the Knight Foundation Fund at the Wichita Community Foundation to temporarily close the alley to vehicles and create a new public space with flexible seating, creative lighting, a ground mural and sculptures by local artists. After one year, the pilot program was extended for six months in order to garner feedback from area stakeholders and the public on the future of the alley. The feedback supported eliminating access to vehicles and ultimately the City of Wichita elected to permanently restrict the alley to pedestrian access only, with the ongoing goal of promoting an urban, walkable, people-oriented district. In 2018, Gallery Alley continued to host a variety of events. Local artists and musicians were able to showcase their work and gain exposure once a month during the popular Final Friday art crawl. East High School students returned to host their second annual “Aces in the Alley” event, during which students were able to display their visual art and give live performances. Other events included pop-up concerts, notably by local radio station T-95, who featured alternative rock band, Asking Alexandria, for a short concert before performing live at The Cotillion. Gallery Alley VIBRANCY D O W N T O W N 4 8