News Summary

URBANA, Ohio — Carrying a checklist and digital cameras, small groups of parents, city officials and school employees patrolled the streets near North Elementary School on a frigid Monday morning last week.

They checked for areas without sidewalks, poorly marked intersections, and obstructions that blocked views for students, among other issues. City officials eventually plan to use the information they collected to apply for infrastructure grants through the Safe Routes to School program, said Melanie Kendrick, the city's development planner.

Laurie Adams, of DGL Consulting Engineers, assisted in the effort, noting the goal of the walk was to get a feel for how the students get to school each day and how safe it is to get there. About 310 students attend North Elementary.

She noted that a student's route to school often includes factors parents may not normally think about.

"We have found that kids will walk a block out of their way to avoid a scary dog," she said.

Overall, Kendrick said the initial grant application was for about $176,000, although the amount the city receives and when it can be used will depend on rules set by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The volunteers also walked similar routes for the East Elementary, the junior high school and Urbana South.

Among the primary issues, Kendrick said the city is hoping to make sidewalks and curbs around the schools to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as improving visibility around the elementary schools. The city also is hoping to add crosswalks at Boyce Street near the junior high school and to improve visibility in that area.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.