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Published Monday, February 13, 2012 in Local
Photo by Jeffrey Leo
Newnan Crossing Elementary youngsters and parents stand at the entrance to a well-worn path from their neighborhood to the school. From left are mom Julie Eastland and daughter Emma Eastland, Emma Bellantoni, and on the bike, Thomas Zamora. In back are Payton Colby at left, Greyson Colby at right on bike, and in the stroller is Cidney Zamora with mom Christina Zamora.
Safe Routes to School: Grant will build sidewalks near Newnan Crossing
The Newnan Times-Herald
A grant from the Safe Routes to School National Partnership will pave the way for walkers and bicycle riders headed to and from Newnan Crossing Elementary School.
According to Ronnie Cheek, director of facilities for Coweta County School System, the grant will pay for the installation of sidewalks from the existing walks at Belltree Circle to the school, turning up the west driveway of the school to the existing sidewalk there.
"There are a number of students that walk to the school, and there's no connectivity between subdivisions on the west side," Cheek said. "This will provide better, safer access to the the school from those subdivisions."
For parent Christina Zamora, who frequently walks her first-grade son Thomas to Newnan Crossing, connecting sidewalks will be a welcome addition.
"Walking to school is great for kids," said Zamora, who hopes Thomas eventually can ride his bike to school on the new paths. "It wakes them up and stimulates their brains."
Like many parents, Zamora -- who also is mom to 3-year-old Cidney -- wants to encourage her children to exercise. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), which recently provided a three-year renewal grant to Safe Routes, is helping lead a nationwide effort to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015.
"This program will help a generation of children to become more active and healthy," said Deb Hubsmith, director of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership. "We look forward to working with many partners to help reverse the childhood obesity epidemic in the next three years."
According to Safe Routes, approximately half of all school-age children walked or biked to school in 1969. Today, only about 13 percent of American school children walk or ride bicycles to school.
It's not just about the exercise for Julie Eastland and her daughters, Newnan Crossing second-grader Emma and preschooler Lanie. It's also about uninterrupted time with her children.
"The girls are very happy when we walk and talk about Emma's day, and I can really concentrate on her," Eastland said. "I can't do that when I'm driving, because I'm too distracted in all the traffic. We have more one-on-one time, and we get to talk about how she can be the best girl she can be in school."
Because of the multi-step process from grant proposal to project completion, however, walkers and bicyclists shouldn't expect to see the sidewalks installed any time soon. Now that the route has been chosen, it must be submitted to the Department of Transportation -- which administrates the grants -- as the final proposal in its budget. That means any work will most likely be at least a year away.
But both Cheek and Michael Klahr, the Newnan city engineer who coordinated the project with Cheek, say it will be worth the wait.
"They are basically going to do this for free," said Klahr, who was part of a recent city effort to improve sidewalks around Ruth Hill Elementary School. "We can add in Newnan Crossing with the state's help. And I think any time we can provide a safer, more direct route for schoolchildren to walk to and from school safety, it's an advantage."
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Golly, For those of you protesting, it is not going to cost you a dime or penny, but there you are, showing your Scrooge side. What's it to you if it doesn't have anything to do with you. Trails are muddy, uneven, and have ruts where students falling with book bags can take place. Complain about the lawsuit then.
Posted by Lynn43 at 1:40 AM
I agree with Ralph....to a certain extent. Never have I known that sidewalks make us any safer. I drive past Newnan Crossing every day and never have I seen anyone walking to school. Just how much of nature do we have to destroy just for the convenience of a few.
Posted by Bystander at 1:30 PM
@ Northgate Mom, I hadn't realized that sidewalks were an effective deterrent to keeping scumbags from snatching our kids. I stand corrected and in fact reverse my stance!! Sidewalk the planet because I am no fan of scumbags!
@ curmudgeon, it was a general statement, not aimed at those pictured. I haven't met a kid yet that complained about the condition of a walking path. Plenty of mom's do though.
@D I appreciate the vote for Mayor. Casting back to the stone ages here is what 5-6 years? LOL! I also didn't know that sidewalks were directly proportionate to the amount of and quality of schools, teachers and other integral infrastructure. Again I stand corrected.
@ AP My point exactly.
Posted by Ralph at 3:14 PM
Ralph, according to your ideas that kids should just keep on tripping over tree roots and stomping through woods to get to school, hell, let's don't stop there! Forget schools entirely! Let's just let the kids be educated by their (your words) fat moms at home like in the good ole' Ralph Days and then we don't need sidewalks, schools, teachers, school buses, or any of that other stuff that makes a community better.
Let's all elect Ralph as Mayor - he can save us all a bunch of tax dollars - and cast us back into the stone ages. Who needs community growth and improvement? Vote for Ralph!
Posted by D at 12:29 PM
Maybe Mr. Klahr's choice of words were wrong. It was a cost from some level paid by tax payers. However I can find bigger government waste in other areas than this. Such as handicapped crosswalks at intersections that almost no one will use. Not even non-handicapped. At least this expense will have a use. By some here the Hoover Dam was built by communism, maybe they are the ones in need of these handicapped crosswalks?
Posted by Dewecheatem at 12:06 PM
You realize that this money is already allotted to this partnership. All the proposal is doing is selecting where it will go. I rather have this done in Newnan, where I live, than another city. All this talk about "communism" over a sidewalk is ridiculous and it has no merit in this article. You know that if these and any other routes for that matter, are used enough it could potentially relive traffic, and prevent congested roadways at peak times. I think some of the people commenting don't have kids or forgot what it is to have young kids. If people would see the layout of this school they would understand the need for this, instead of shooting off your mouth I suggest you understand the issue first.
Posted by Newnan Resident at 7:30 PM
The 2 Moms pictured definitely do not look like "fat out of shape mom's". Perhaps you need to see an eye doctor. I totally agree with the Northgate mom. One thing I would like to know is--who is this Grant guy who keeps giving away money. How do I get on his mailing list??
Posted by coweta cur-mudgeon at 5:32 PM
How can we waste tax money on a sidewalk? Sidewalks don't even turn a profit!!! Get a grip people. This city needs more sidewalks. If there are funds available for them then put them to work! When "our kids pay for this" maybe they won't be so fat!
Posted by AP at 4:59 PM
Glad to see your at it again! Communist country?/ SERIOUSLY you need to stop smoking whatever it is you smoke. You come off as paranoid and delusional! If the kids need a sidewalk so be it. Big deal. Everyone will benefit from it. Whah, whah, whah!!!!
Posted by Coweta2 at 3:27 PM
Sissies REALLY????? Used to be in your "olden" days one could walk safely thru the trees to school. Now you cannot even take your child to Walmart in the broad day light with out some scum bag trying to steal them!! Call it what you want, but if it keeps ONE kid safe...it is worth it! How many kids you have Ralph? Glad I am not one of them! I am sure all the "fat moms" out there appreciate you too! What a "jerk" thing to say!
Posted by Northgate mom at 3:24 PM
Kids have been cutting through yards, the woods and the like for decades to go to school. Looks like there is a well worn path already there. Putting in a side walk is more for the fat out of shape mom's more than it is for the kids. If Johnny trips over a tree root, he learns a valuable lesson. We are making these kids soft if we give in to these mamby pamby demands!
Posted by Ralph at 2:08 PM
And this will benefit how many kids? The current kids will be in high school by the time DOT finishes their study.
Posted by coweta cur-mudgeon at 1:27 PM
DOT has to review the "proposed plans" before concrete can be poured. REALLY! To pour a concrete sidewalk it does not take anything but a "lets pour mud" and make a sidewalk to Newnan Crossing school. By the time DOT is done it will cost over $100,000.00 more.
Posted by patriot regulator at 1:18 PM
We are not hearing the dollar amount for this grant so I will step out of the box for a moment. There many positives that go with kids walking and bicycling to school. How much green space does the county already own that could be developed into more pedestrian friendly projects like this one? What about the upcoming “SPLOSH” vote? I would like to see a wider net being tossed on the projects list for transportation and recreation. Maybe a bit more thought and imagination. Just a thought.
Posted by Just Me at 11:57 AM
When I was a young adult working in a local drug store there was a kid who come in with his parents always wanting someting free. This time he wanted a free coke while I was loading the coke machine. I asked him if he had any free money. He was dumbfounded. Now this kid is grown with kids of his own demanding free money sidewalks. At this rate we will be a full blow communist country country in 20 years. But it is "for the children".
Posted by Bonnie Blue at 11:53 AM
Just how does a cement path make walking safer? Convenient, less messy, nicer...but safer? And look at what happens: gov't inertia slows down even sidewalk installation!
Posted by Govt watcher at 11:46 AM
Remember, this "FREE" money is being borrowed and your children will have to pay it back with interest.
Posted by DB at 10:25 AM
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cement
2/19/2012
Link To This Comment
Did you know that cement started in Nazi Germany?
The national socialists have obviously invaded this country if we're making transportation by any other means than by automobile easier.
If we beat Obama in November then these useless, communist sidewalks will never be built!
Modern conservatism is a poor excuse for a political philosophy.
Posted by travis strickland at 12:29 AM