Last updated: 28th July 2005
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New houses, paved streets and a city park are just a few of the additions to Amy Anderson’s neighborhood during the past 40 years. But there’s one addition that’s been missing.“When we moved in, the developer said the city was planning to build a sidewalk across the street,” Anderson said. “I called the city over the years, but they never put one in.”
The Anderson’s house is about two blocks from Russell Boulevard Elementary school. Anderson said during the school year she sees an average of 20 to 30 kids walking in front of her house each day.
“It’s obvious it needs to be there, and people have no place to go except the middle of the street,” Anderson said.
Jack Jensen, assistant superintendent of elementary schools for Columbia Public Schools, agrees, and wants the city to build more sidewalks near elementary schools.
“We would like for kids to be able to walk to school wherever it was feasible and safe and a lot of kids don’t have that option,” Jensen said.
Jacque Cowherd, deputy superintendent for the district, gave the city a list of streets located near eight elementary schools that need sidewalks. The city already has 21 sidewalks and street projects in different stages of development as part of the Capital Improvements Plan. It’s not clear whether Cowherd’s recommendations will be added to the list.
“It takes a while to select which streets,” said Chris Janku, Second Ward City Council representative. “You have to get public input and look at how feasible it is.”
The city spends about $100,000 a year repairing and building new sidewalks. The City Council is considering whether to put a one-eighth sales tax increase and one-fourth sales tax extension on the November ballot to pay for streets and sidewalks. It would give Columbia an additional $300,000 a year to spend on sidewalks.
When it comes to walking to school, more sidewalks mean safer routes for kids.
“I think it would be difficult for anybody to argue against that,” said Richard Stone, traffic engineer for the city.
Although people want kids to be safe, it doesn’t mean everyone wants a sidewalk in their front yard. Anderson said a sidewalk on her side of the street would destroy her landscaping and three mature trees.
“And it’s not just our front yard, it’s every front yard,” Anderson said. “It would be inappropriate, because this is a settled neighborhood.”
Anderson’s suggestion is for the city to construct the sidewalk across from her Princeton Drive home in Kiwanis Park.
Columbia resident Frederick Schmidt said he thinks sidewalks help build a sense of community and encourage kids to be outside. He remembers walking to Grant Elementary when he attended the school in the 1960s.
“Being able to get myself to and from school on my own was a big part of my education,” Schmidt said.
But these days, Schmidt said he sees fewer kids on foot.
“The idea that fit is cool hasn’t caught on,” Schmidt said. “We’re so programmed to get in a car and drive even when we don’t want to.”
Gina Overshiner (pictured above with her children) has been trying to change that. Overshiner walks her 7-year-old son Max to Russell Boulevard Elementary and organized a “walking school bus” to get other families involved. Overshiner said some parents were skeptical.
“There’s a stigma that kids will think it’s nerdy and not cool to walk with a parent, but most of them really like it,” Overshiner said. Overshiner said she will expand the program in the fall, with or without sidewalks.
“Kids can handle it, they’re fine,” Overshiner said. “Just give them a chance and you’ll be surprised what they can do.”
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