A district's first rainbow crossing that celebrates diversity within society has been created.
The crossing has been installed in Leavesden Country Park in recognition of LGBTQ+ communities.
Three Rivers District Council deputy leader Stephen Giles-Medhurst and his Liberal Democrat colleague Cllr Sara Bedford recently visited the park after their idea for a rainbow crossing became a reality.
An existing zebra crossing by the playpark has been replaced with a variety of different colours.
The crossing by artist Daniel Quasar incorporates the traditional rainbow Pride flag to represent the LGBT+ community, with a chevron of black and white stripes to represent people of colour, and blue, pink and white for transgender people. The white also symbolises those who have been lost to HIV/AIDS.
Rather than the design being painted, it instead uses a material called thermoplastic.
The council cannot install rainbow crossings on land it does not own, with Leavesden Country Park and outside Three Rivers House earmarked so far.
The rainbow crossing cost £1,800 to install.
Related: Plans for two rainbow crossings in Three Rivers district
After the installation of the crossing in the country park, Cllr Giles-Medhurst said: "We want to show wider support for our diverse community in Three Rivers and make it clear that everyone is respected for who they are.
“This crossing celebrates diversity and inclusivity in a fun and colourful way that also serves a practical purpose as a road crossing."
Cllr Bedford and Cllr Giles-Medhurst called for rainbow crossings to be installed in all of Hertfordshire's ten districts at a county council meeting in September.
The latter said he was "disappointed" that the motion was turned down after the ruling Conservative party felt the highways budget shouldn't be used for that purpose.
Related: Highways budget 'should not fund rainbow crossings’
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