At its Feb. 4 meeting, Kyle City Council received a presentation from Coleman & Associates Landscape Architecture on aesthetic design elements for more than 20 roundabouts on city roadways.
The overview
Kyle officials aim to enhance the aesthetic and functional appeal of the city’s roundabouts and major corridors, transforming them into “welcoming public spaces,” according to the city council agenda item.
The beautification efforts will focus on art, landscaping and signage within the central islands of the roundabouts. There are 25 roundabouts included in the program, along with the beautification of 2 roads, for a total of 27 initiatives.
The design, construction and maintenance of the roundabouts will be funded through the 2022 Kyle Road Bond and Capital Improvement Plan projects fund, according to the agenda item.
By the numbers
Q2 2025:
- 11 roundabout design plans completed
- 1 street beautification design plan completed
- 5 roundabout design plans completed
- 4 roundabout design plans completed
- 1 street beautification plan completed
- 5 roundabout design plans completed
Explained
The three main beautification focuses include:
- Art: Aims to highlight the community’s unique character by placing art pieces on the central island, and add color and personality, according to the city council presentation. The plan also emphasizes collaboration with local artists.
- Landscaping: Incorporates xeriscaping, a water-efficient method suited for arid and semi-arid climates. The presentation emphasized the use of strong planting designs to create structure and identity while reducing irrigation and maintenance through gravel-based landscaping.
- Signage: Involves developing wayfinding signs that complement existing signage throughout the community.
City Council started discussions about the roundabout beautification project at a meeting on June 4.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, roundabouts improve traffic flow, are safer than traffic signals and stop signs, and are better for the environment due to less idling.
Notable quote
“We want to have something that really holds it all together, tells the story of Kyle," Aan Coleman, founding partner of Coleman & Associates said. "But at the same time, as I mentioned, people will rely on [the roundabouts] to know where they are in the city.”
