The city says sidewalk projects are underway across Port St. Lucie, with an updated 10-year master plan expected to go before the City Council in 2027 to include additional sidewalks.
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. —
As the city of Port St. Lucie continues building sidewalks across the city, residents advocating for safer school bus stops and routes say more immediate measures are needed to protect children walking along busy roads.
Belinda Green, a Port St. Lucie resident and grandmother, has been pushing city officials for safer bus stops, pedestrian stop signs and painted walkways, saying children should not have to risk their lives getting to and from school.
Green said her concerns grew after watching her granddaughter and other children navigate traffic near their neighborhood off Southwest Paar Drive, where a sidewalk only exists on one side of the street.
Green said once the bus drops the children off, the bus driver helps them cross the street to where the sidewalk is. However, the children who live on the opposite side of the street then have to cross back over without help.
“Once the bus stopped and the kids were walking, cars were flying by. Literally, if you crossed your foot across that line, a child would have been run over or an adult. So that started my campaign to email our city officials, transportation officials, and we did get an opportunity to speak,” she said.
Green said she has continued communicating with city officials and transportation officials about potential safety improvements. She is calling for more sidewalks, pedestrian stop signs and marked walkways.
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“Kids should be able to just walk along the street and make it home safely, walk to school safely,” Green said.
She mentioned the recent tragic incident in which a 14-year-old Treasure Coast High School student died after being struck by a vehicle while walking to school in Port St. Lucie.
“My heart goes out to the family. I, too, have lost a child before, so I understand that grief. When I met with city officials right there at the corner, I literally said, ‘We don’t need to lose another child,'” she told WPBF.
Sidewalk projects underway across the city
The city says sidewalks are currently being installed through its Capital Improvement Projects and Sidewalk Master Plan.
Active projects include Port St. Lucie Boulevard from Alcantarra to Paar, Floresta Drive from Crosstown Parkway to Prima Vista, Kestor Drive, Volucia Drive and Lakehurst Drive.
Recently completed projects include sidewalks on Abingdon Avenue, Import Drive, Brescia Street and Grand Drive, as well as Berkshire Boulevard Phase 1 and a Veterans Memorial Parkway connection to the Publix plaza and post office.
Upcoming projects include California Boulevard from Crosstown Parkway to Prima Vista and the Peacock Trail at O.L. Peacock Sr. Park, from Dreyfuss Boulevard to Open View Drive.
City officials say the public works department continues to evaluate existing priorities and identify additional locations for future improvements.
Hearst Owned
Port St. Lucie Sidewalk Master Plan
An updated plan, including proposed future sidewalk locations, is expected to be presented to the City Council for approval in 2027.
What about safety before sidewalks are built?
The city says it has met with the St. Lucie County School Board as part of the master plan review to discuss school bus stops. City officials say the school board determines bus stop locations, which can change annually based on transportation needs and where children live.
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The city also says crosswalks are evaluated as part of new projects.
Under federal accessibility requirements, crosswalks must connect to compliant sidewalks and curb ramps at both ends, meaning they cannot be installed independently where accessible pedestrian infrastructure is absent.
A push for more neighborhood input
According to the city, the previous sidewalk master plan prioritized major roadways, particularly within 2 miles of schools, with the goal of connecting existing sidewalks rather than building isolated sections.
The updated plan is expected to expand those connections into more neighborhoods, while continuing to prioritize heavily traveled areas and routes connecting schools, parks and recreational destinations.
A call for action
For Green, the issue goes beyond her own family. She said every resident has a connection to a child who could face similar dangers.
She started a petition asking the city to implement several safety measures to protect children, including:
Immediate transverse pedestrian crosswalksImmediate in-street pedestrian crossing signsSpeed bumps to permanently slow down reckless drivers
“Collectively, together, we’re stronger,” Green said.
The petition can be found here.