MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Residents in a Parrish neighborhood say more sidewalks are needed for kids walking to school.
What You Need To Know
Residents want improved sidewalks on Old Tampa Road between U.S. 301 and Fort Hamer Road
They say students from Williams Elementary School are walking along the busy road
Manatee officials say there are records of requests in the past to get more sidewalks on Old Tampa Road but the projects never moved forward
Dion Schaal says completed sidewalks have been needed for years on Old Tampa Road between U.S. 301 and Fort Hamer Road.
Schaal says the sidewalks that are there come to a dead end or are in bad shape, which means pedestrians often have to cross Old Tampa Road or walk alongside it.
“Unless you want to hop barbed wire at the dead end. Or take your chances on the deadly s-curve on Old Tampa Road and avoid traffic like you’re in a game of Frogger, this is what you have to work with,” Schaal said.
It’s crossing and walking along the road that is his main concern, especially for kids walking to and from Williams Elementary School.
Manatee County officials told Spectrum Bay News 9 there are records of requests in the past to get more sidewalks on Old Tampa Road but the projects never moved forward. (Spectrum News/Tim Wronka)
“This is where they want my kids to walk. My 7- and 9-year-old. Coming home from school,” Schaal said. “They want them to ride a bicycle next to standing water that’s in a ditch. Nowhere for them to safely exit. And no sidewalks, except for the one that dead ends into the woods back here.”
For years, he has tried to get Manatee County to fix and complete the sidewalks but he hasn’t had any luck.
Manatee County officials told Spectrum Bay News 9 there are records of requests in the past to get more sidewalks on Old Tampa Road but the projects never moved forward. Any new requests and funding would need to be approved by the board of county commissioners.
With traffic increasing in the growing area, Schaal is hoping to get some answers soon.
“It’s a disaster waiting to happen. And we’re trying to prevent it,” Schaal said.