COLUMN: One step at a time

“Where the Sidewalk Ends” a collection of poems and short stories comprehended by children was one of the books I remember during my childhood.

As an adult, that book has taken on a different meaning for me in an entirely different setting.

Sidewalks in Creston. Those sidewalks end in many places.

With warmer weather upon us, I have begun an annual exercise routine of walking a few evenings during the week. (My walks are at least 45 minutes.) I usually walk the same area of town; north of Howard and between Elm and Chestnut streets. I have been across Uptown too.

Because of where I walked previously in another town, I try to use the sidewalk. That town is similar to Creston as it does not have consistent, continuous sidewalks on blocks as walkers use the streets. If a person walked the dog, using the street gave people more room. But there were the occasional close calls with walkers and car traffic, especially later in the evenings when dark-colored clothes begins to blend in with the limited daylight.

Which is one reason sidewalks are important to a town’s streets. If you’re on the sidewalk, you are in a safer place.

That section of north-central Creston I walk is a mish-mash of sidewalks. Some blocks have sidewalks. Some blocks don’t. Some blocks just have portions of sidewalks. Other blocks had sidewalks; as grass and other vegetation took over. Some houses only have a sidewalk from the curb to the front door. Some blocks don’t have curb and gutter, either.

I admit, I have walked the blocks enough to know it’s not worth the effort to try and stay on a sidewalk because they are not there so I stick to the street. I probably walk close enough in the street to extend my arm to touch parked cars to stay clear of traffic.

Sidewalks have other advantages.

Sidewalks are that much less area to mow grass; only to make up the effort by having to remove snow. A friend of mine who drives UPS in another state said sidewalks prevent stepping in mud or the grass when there is no sidewalk. And if the sidewalks are clear of snow, winter footwear and pants don’t have to trudge through snow on the lawn. Sidewalks are intentionally the border between the personal property and the city right-of-way.

When my kids were younger we lived in a town where our house was at the end of a dead-end street. The street was ideal to teach a kid how to ride a bicycle. There was minimal traffic as only the people who lived on the street created the car traffic. If we didn’t live on a dead-end street and we had a block of sidewalk, I would have helped my daughter learn to ride. A school playground would be another option.

I don’t know what sidewalks do to a house’s value. If there is no sidewalk, does it lower its value? I do know, for me, it makes a home look more complete. I’m sure many of those houses in that part of Creston have had different owners over the decades. I wonder how many considered adding a sidewalk. The new Habitat for Humanity house on North Walnut has sidewalk.

I know sidewalks do need maintenance. After years of exposure to moisture and freeze-and-thaw cycles, it’s possible for the sidewalk to eventually sink, shift and break into pieces causing potential trip hazards for those who do walk, let alone the property owner.

In early 2022, the city of Creston reviewed a sidewalk improvement project. Creston officials listed 214 properties to be considered. At the time, the plan included 21,760 linear feat of new sidewalk at a cumulative cost of $992,420 to property owners, with an average cost of $4,637 per property. With recent tax assessments still a talking point, talking about buying sidewalk doesn’t make it easier.

The city would be responsible for approximately $289,000 of the sidewalk for 116 ADA compliant pedestrian ramps and 1,200 linear feet of sidewalk on Clark Street, from South Cherry to South Chestnut streets.

No action was taken.

But steps still are.