'Safe Routes to School' initiative beginning to look at alternative options on Hoyt, Quick Roads

SPECIAL TO HARBOR LIGHT NEWSPAPER

The Safe Routes to School program– an initiative being led by HARBOR Inc. to increase trails and safe walking routes surrounding Harbor Springs Schools– is well underway, with teacher and student surveys now complete, and parent input being gathered.

The program, which was proposed for the Harbor Springs area because of a desire to increase the number of students who walk or cycle to school, has the potential benefit of garnering funding for new sidewalks and other pedestrian-friendly needs.

According to HARBOR Inc. executive director Danna Widmar, two new trails were proposed last year when the project began, including a trail from the schools to the Hoyt and Quick Rds. intersection and one from the Tamarac Trails neighborhood to the schools.

"This program is a great opportunity to fund those proposed trails, while also providing good information about what prevents children from walking and biking more these days," Widmar said.

In November, teachers, parents, and students in third-eighth grade participated in surveys regarding walking to school, a necessary step in the federally funded Safe Routes program. Widmar said there was nearly 100-percent participation from teachers and students at both Shay Elementary and Harbor Springs Middle School. She said additional response from parents, particularly of middle school-age children, is still desired. HARBOR Inc. will continue to accept surveys through the end of December.

Looking ahead, Widmar noted that efforts are underway to shape up more concrete plans for specific trails.

"Specific to the Hoyt and Quick Rd. proposal, HARBOR Inc. is now working to help solve the considerable difficulties associated with achieving the outcome of safe access," she said.

In order to do so, a consultant, Emily Meyerson of Meyerson Consulting and the Top of Michigan Trails Council has been hired to do an evaluation of three separate options to connect a trial from the schools to Hoyt and Quick roads.

Meyerson will evaluate the pros and cons (based on safety, cost, accessibility, etc.) for a possible sidewalk on Hoyt Road; a sidewalk on Quick Road (all the way to State, or to some intermediate point and back to the schools); or a trail through Kiwanis Park and across land, rather than the following roads.

"The potential use of the proposed route is an important consideration," Meyerson said. "This route is really intended to serve the local community, specifically residents in the surrounding Hoyt and Quick subdivisions and children going to the soccer fields. The connection will be one that is specifically designed to meet the needs of those users."

Widmar said the study will also provide more information for the consideration of private property adjacent to any potential trail/sidewalk improvement.

"The benefits of Safe Routes to Schools are many," Widmar said. "When routes are safe, students can get the regular exercise they need for good health by walking or biking to school. Studies have shown that physically active kids have improved mood and concentration and that physical fitness is related to better test scores on some standardized tests."

Parents interested in filling out the Safe Routes to School attitudes and behaviors survey can print the survey at www.harborinc.org/parentsurvey.asp

Responses can be mailed to P.O. Box 112, Harbor Springs, MI. 49740 or e-mailed to danna@harborinc.org. The responses are currently being tallied by Michigan State University, and results are anticipated in January.

For more information, contact HARBOR Inc. (231) 526- 5060 or e-mail info@harborinc.org.

This is part of the December 12, 2007 online edition of Harbor Light Newspaper.

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