Carlsbad Needs Your Input! Your Voice Can Shape the Chestnut Underpass Art

Carlsbad residents are invited to provide input on the new public art planned for the Chestnut Avenue underpass beneath Interstate 5. The artist team Greenmeme is presenting two initial concepts and wants the community’s feedback. The deadline to share your thoughts is Thursday, October 2.

About the Project

The art will be installed along the walls of the underpass. Greenmeme developed the concepts based on input collected from the community earlier this year. Themes that guided the designs include celebrating nature and the ocean, honoring Barrio history and culture, fostering community connection and inclusivity, reflecting the movement and importance of the underpass for people walking, biking, and driving, and inspiring community pride and hope.

Both concepts use a color palette inspired by Carlsbad’s landscape, from its hills and open spaces to the flower fields and coastline. They also take advantage of the raised panels along the underpass walls installed during recent street improvements by Caltrans and SANDAG.

Concept 1: Community Silhouettes

This design features silhouettes of people, animals, and everyday scenes that reflect the community’s identity. Examples include children playing sports, beachgoers, skateboarders, pets, and local workers. The images would be created by masking sections of the concrete and painting around them to reveal the shapes. If this concept is selected, residents will have a chance to participate in events where they can be photographed and potentially included in the final artwork.

Concept 2: Community Hats

The second concept highlights the many hats people wear in the community. It includes symbolic hats representing community roles and historical hats of Barrio residents and early immigrants. The hats would be made from thin metal cutouts layered together to create a ribbon effect. If this design moves forward, Greenmeme plans to gather inspiration from the community through photo submissions or in-person events.

How to Provide Feedback

Residents can view more details about both concepts and share their input through an online form by Thursday, October 2. Community feedback will guide the next phase of the project. Greenmeme will refine the preferred design and present an update to the Arts Commission on November 4, 2025.

To stay informed and receive project updates, residents can sign up for email notifications. More information is available on the City of Carlsbad website: Chestnut Underpass Public Art.