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Casey-Westfield Superintendent of Schools Dee Scott and City of Casey Superintendent of Utilities Shelby Biggs look over the mapping for the Safe Routes to School sidewalks and walkways made possible by acquisition of the Federal Grant. Photo by Sharon Durham
Grant paves the way for school walking paths  Share
The City of Casey has announced the receipt of a $243,400 grant. Two years in the works, the Safe Routes to School grant will provide sidewalks to Monroe School and a ten-foot wide asphalt walking/biking trail through the park. The Safe Routes to School project was a true community effort spearheaded by Community Project Coordinator Traci Heffelbower. Superintendent of Schools Dee Scott, who first began working on the project when she was the Monroe School principal, said Traci's involvement was the key to their receiving the grant. ''She was talented in this area and put in a lot of time and effort,'' Scott said. ''We wouldn't have gotten this without her.'' Superintendent of Utilities Shelby Biggs echoed Scott's words. ''Traci got the job done,'' he said.
Scott said the grant had a hefty education side to it and encourages students to walk or ride a bicycle to school. A survey had to first be completed to find out how many students who could walk to school actually did. A follow-up survey will be conducted to see if the numbers change. A new five-foot wide sidewalk will be laid on SE 4th St. from Washington Street to E. Monroe Ave. A ten-foot wide walking/biking trail will then go all the way to E. Harrison. Another five-foot wide sidewalk will run down SE 8th St. from E. Monroe back to E. Washington St. In addition, a 10-foot wide asphalt path will border Fairview Park from SE 8th St. to SE 4th St. and circle around to the first park entrance on SE 4th and on through the Park running between the lake and the playground to SE 8th St. back to E. Monroe Ave. Biggs said all of the sidewalks will have ADA ramps and several of the old sidewalks will also have ramps added. As to when this will happen? Biggs said the Department of Transportation, who is administering the grant, is backlogged with phone calls. ''I would hope for 2010 to get this done, but that would be fast,'' Biggs said. The work will be completed with contract labor and will be bid out. The trail through the Park will be 3,500 feet long or two-thirds of a mile. Scott said it will be a tremendous help to physical education classes. ''They will be able to block off the trail for the day when they practice running the mile,'' Scott said. ''I'm excited about the safety aspect and the use for PE classes.'' As stated in the grant proposal, the pathway in the park will separate students from traffic, and traffic congestion in the immediate area around the school will be reduced greatly if more students walk to school. ''It's great for Casey,'' said Biggs. ''and it will make a great impact on the town. As a parent, I can appreciate this being in place.'' Agencies assisting with the grant by writing letters of support, in addition to the city of Casey and Casey-Westfield Schools, were University of Illinois Extension-Commmunity and Economic Development, Clark County Trails Coalition, Lincoln Trail Publishing, Casey Chamber of Commerce, and Casey Police Department. Sharon Durham is a staff reporter for the Casey Reporter.
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