Better Connections summer project mixes art, safety near the Triangle Green
June 26, 2026 | By Lisa Scagliotti
Waterbury artist Sarah-Lee Terrat designed the mural that students, their teachers, and a few parent volunteers then painted. Photo by Gordon Miller
A special summertime project installed in the heart of Waterbury Center has added some art along with features designed to improve pedestrian, cycling and driving safety.
The Better Connections demonstration project has added a three-way stop at the intersection of Guptil Road and Maple Street near the Waterbury Center Triangle Green. New pavement markings include parallel and angled parking spaces along the Guptil side as well as multiple crosswalks to connect pedestrians across Howard Avenue by the Grange Hall and across Maple Street close to the entrance to Hope Davey Park. Some planters have been added to further delineate the edge of the green near the parking spaces.
Given that the area has no sidewalks, lanes for pedestrians have been marked along Howard Avenue and Maple Street, and temporary three-foot-tall bollard posts have been added to make the new paths more visible to motorists.
A standout feature is a colorful mural painted on the pavement in the corner of the park at the Guptil-Howard intersection. Waterbury artist Sarah-Lee Terrat designed the colorful floral pattern. Project lead volunteers Duncan McDougall and Kati Gallagher helped prep the site by putting down the base background coat of bright blue paint. Primary and middle school students in the MakerSphere after-school program worked over two afternoons to add all of the bright colors to the design.
McDougall thanks the student artists and their teachers – Terrat, along with MK Monley and Mame McKee – for their work on what were particularly hot early-June afternoons. He also thanks Tim Barron and the Sherman-Williams Paint Store in Montpelier for donating the paint and supplies to create the mural.
The artwork adds some creative flair to the intersection. Waterbury Center so far hasn’t been a focus for public art, unlike downtown Waterbury, with its multiple murals and other art installations.
The project and new signage, pavement markings, etc., have so far elicited much discussion on social media, with opinions from individuals weighing in favor of some of the new features and others highly critical of the changes. Car crash on Vermont Route 100 soon after the changes were made resulted in much traffic detouring through the Triangle Green area, giving many drivers their first opportunity to navigate the new road markings and features and sparking more conversation.
Photo by Gordon Miller
Better Connections team leaders and Interim Town Manager Bill Woodruff emphasize that the changes around the Triangle Green are temporary; the project is scheduled to end in September.
Whether any of the changes are to remain in place after that time will depend greatly on the feedback that town officials receive and observations of how the elements have worked. The public is encouraged to weigh in with their thoughts using an online form that will be open throughout the project period.
The Better Connections demonstration project is paid for with a state grant and is part of a much wider-ranging study of Waterbury Center transportation infrastructure that has looked at ways to improve walking, biking and driving through the main corridors in this part of town. Its recommendations could inform future improvements in the area. A detailed presentation with slides, photos and maps is online on the town website here.