Lincoln Elementary Gets First Traffic Garden in Oregon Pilot Program

The Corvallis School District is excited to announce the installation of the first-ever traffic garden in Corvallis at Lincoln Elementary School. Work began on Monday, August 18, 2025, as part of the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School Program. Lincoln Elementary is one of only three schools in the state selected to receive technical assistance through the Traffic Gardens Pilot Program.

A traffic garden is a kid-sized, car-free streetscape featuring stop signs, crosswalks, and mini-intersections. This unique, hands-on learning space will allow students to safely practice biking and pedestrian skills before encountering real-world roads.

The Alta Planning + Design project team led the installation, with vital help from community volunteers. Last spring, district, school, and parent staff met to share ideas, ensuring the garden will serve students and the broader community for years to come.

This project builds on the district’s long-standing commitment to bike safety education. For decades, Corvallis students have learned bike safety in 5th grade, and this year that instruction expanded to all K–5 students through physical education classes. The Lincoln traffic garden is the first step toward a district-wide vision: a traffic garden at every elementary school.

By creating inclusive spaces where students of all backgrounds can learn, practice, and thrive, the district continues to provide safe, relevant, and engaging learning experiences that prepare students for the future.