Sidewalk makes walk to school safer

Students at Churchville Elementary School who walk the new sidewalk to school, present State Assemblymanwoman Susan John with a corsage and bouquet of flowers at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Park Road sidewalk. Photo by Kristina Gabalski.

Churchville officials, neighbors, students and State Assemblywoman Susan John (center) cut the ribbon on the new Park Road sidewalk. Photo by Kristina Gabalski.

Section of new Park Road sidewalk that winds through trees as it heads easts along a curve in the road. Photo by Kristina Gabalski.

Sidewalk makes walk to school safer

CHURCHVILLE - New York State Assemblywoman Susan John joined community leaders, school officials, neighbors and students in Churchville Thursday, October 25 for a ribbon cutting on a new section of sidewalk. The sidewalk on Park Road runs from West Buffalo Street around to the back of Churchville Elementary School, making it easier for students who walk to school. A portion of the sidewalk, which runs on the east and then south side of Park Road, winds through a wooded area where there is a hard curve in the road.

A group of students who use the sidewalk everyday on their way to and from school presented Assemblywoman John with a corsage and bouquet of orange flowers, one of the Churchville-Chili school colors. John told those in attendance that she is working to help make projects like the sidewalk a reality. "I'm doing my part to get some of those tax dollars back from the State of New York," she said. She cited how important the sidewalk is to the safety of students, "Making sure our children can get to places safely is a goal we all share," she said. John also thanked Park Road residents for their patience during the construction phase of the project, "I hope you will enjoy it. It makes everyone better able to enjoy the park and the neighborhood." John said the new sidewalk will make a positive impact on life in the village. "It's not just a sidewalk. It makes a difference in the quality of life. It makes it safer to get to school," she said.

Churchville Mayor Nancy Steedman thanked Assemblywoman John for her work in obtaining funding for the sidewalk. She also commended everyone who was involved in making the sidewalk a reality. "It does take a community to build a sidewalk like this," she said, noting that such projects need the cooperation of state, county, town, village and school officials. Steedman recognized the efforts of former Mayor Don Ehrmentraut, Monroe County Legislator Robert Colby, the MRB Group which did the engineering work, Forrest Skelton and the Monroe County Parks Department, Churchville-Chili School board members and Superintendent Dr. Pamela Kissel, Churchville Village Board members, and Department of Public Works Superintendent Dave Adams and his crew.

Monroe County Legislator Robert Colby commended everyone who was involved in planning and constructing the sidewalk. "This project should be the norm, both the exception," he said. "This should be the way things work." A small section of the new sidewalk is in Churchville Park, which is a Monroe County Park. The section leads to the Sprucewood Nature Center which is frequently used by students. School Superintendent Dr. Pamela Kissel said the sidewalk shows that school and community officials can work together to benefit everyone," Susan (John), you are truly a friend to education," she said. "We need to build on community relationships. In these combined efforts we do the best for our kids."

Churchville Village Board members discussed the new Park Road sidewalk during their regular meting on October 22. Steedman commented at that time that the sidewalk has done much to improve safety. "Families with students who walk to school enjoy the fact they can walk around that road ... it has just become such a safe way," she said.

Trustees Scott Cullen and Diane Pusateri both commended Department of Public Works Superintendent Dave Adams for the job done on the project. "It's a great sidewalk," Cullen said, "it adds huge character."

"Love it," Pusateri said.

Riga Town Board approves services for new sidewalk
Pedestrians in Churchville and Riga will have an easier time getting to the Riga Town Hall in the future. At their regular October Town Board meeting, council members approved a resolution to accept the proposal for engineering services from Chatfield Engineers for the design for installation of approximately 1,200 linear feet of concrete sidewalk. The resolution states that the sidewalk would run along the north side of East Buffalo Street from Washington Street to the driveway between the town hall and the American Legion Post. The resolution included an additional 40 linear feet for sidewalk between the state right-of-way and the Town Hall.

Council members briefly discussed lighting for the sidewalk and the resolution states that lighting should be consistent with what the Village of Churchville is doing for its eastern gateway to the village.