It’s not easy to navigate snowy streets and sidewalks in the City of Erie, but ambassadors with the Erie Downtown Partnership are working to help solve the problem.
Ken Parks, the Supervisor Ambassador with the Erie Downtown Partnership said, “We are doing a little more cleanup, opening up the corners so people with wheelchairs and walkers and stuff like that can get around the city.”
Staff are working to clear snow from nearly 70 blocks of sidewalk through the city. Derek Smith, the Assistant Manager of Ambassadors with the Erie Downtown Partnership said, “The main arteries are important because that’s where a lot of businesses are and the side streets are important because that’s where a lot of people are and we need people to get to the businesses.”
Staff explained they use all sorts of equipment to make sure they get these sidewalks clear in a timely fashion.
According to Smith said, “We have multiple attachments for the bobcat. We have plows, we have buckets, we have a snow blower. And when we can’t use those a good ole fashion shovel works.”
Staff said it can be hard to find a place to put all the snow.
“We try to put it out of the way, we try to move it towards the curb. We try to keep it out of the way, but wherever there is room we move it where it’s not going to be an obstacle for anyone”, said Parks
They also want to help their neighbors and fellow businesses who may need their sidewalks cleared too.
According to Parks, “They go on our website and look for the ambassadors, they can fill out a form, such as the Erie Playhouse, they needed the whole front of their building cleared out for whatever show they had going on and we took care of that today.”
It’s not an easy job to work in cold conditions but staff members said they enjoy taking care of their community.
“It’s rewarding because we get to see people downtown and a lot of the people downtown know us by name and they thank us for what we are doing and that’s rewarding enough for us.” said Parks.
To get your sidewalk cleared, click here.