Debuting in 2022, Curbside Haiku activates Downtown’s public right-of-way and celebrates the neighborhood’s vibrancy and inclusivity. For 45 days each spring, 150 “art boards” featuring winning poetry and artwork are installed in Downtown tree wells and planter beds.

In 2024, a call to the public to submit short poems called haiku resulted in 155 entries from people of various ages, a 40 percent increase over 2023 participation. Judges from Downtown project partners Magic City Books and the Woody Guthrie Center selected 10 haiku winners and DTP commissioned artist Jessica Newman to design a backdrop for the poetry.

The 2024 winning poets are Suzanne Bruce, Claire Collins, Jewell B N Hunt, Page Isley, Cheryl Kane, Paige Palestini, Teresa Parker, Cheryl Sanders, Ellen Stanley, and Jeff Thompson: