Committee Calls For Sidewalks To Be Installed Near Schools

A member of a committee charged with creating safe routes to schools strongly urged the Greenfield School Board to support the construction of sidewalks near schools throughout the district. 

Rick Sokol, Greenfield's director of neighborhood services, told school board members that sidewalks would create a safer environment for children to travel to and from schools during a presentation to the board Monday evening.

"We have to install sidewalks on our main streets in Greenfield for the general public interest and in the interest in safety," said Sokol, as he discussed the Safe Routes to School committee's progress.

Sokol referred to the Greenfield's municipal code regarding sidewalks in making his case.

The ordinance reads: "In order to provide for the public health and welfare of its pedestrians, a network of sidewalk must be established within the city. Sidewalk installation shall be required on all section, quarter-section, state and county trunk highways."

Sokol told the board the city does not enforce the ordinance because residents have historically objected. 

"Because there is a snow shoveling obligation associated with sidewalks," he said. "That snow shoveling obligation has literally stopped road projects. After trying to deal with that issue, the city decided it can't wait for road projects anymore so it started to ignore this element of the municipal code." 

Board members responded positively to the request with Superintendent Conrad Farner asking for a resolution to be drafted that would formally articulate the board's support for sidewalks. 

"We have been pushing sidewalks a little more lately and have gotten a little more gumption in the city to install sidewalks," said Sokol, referring to a couple of city road projects that included sidewalk construction on one side of the street. 

School Board member Julie Rome opposes the practice of placing sidewalks on one side of the roadway.

"I think it's ridiculous," Rome said. "The fact that our city is allowing this when the ordinance says what it is. It needs to be implemented on both sides because kids are going to walk on both sides of the road." 

The Safe Routes to School committee also is currently evaluating different traffic calming techniques such as signage and  pavement modification, Sokol said.  

Speed monitor, yield to pedestrian and solar-powered, flashing school zone signs are being recommended by the committee. The committee also is recommending speed humps to be placed in specific areas of the city.