Plans are made; grants are received; construction for a new sidewalk in New Haven from the American Legion to the high school and potentially, a walking trail through the city park could virtually start tomorrow. Cold weather is the only thing holding back city administrator Steve Roth and his team.
The idea for this new sidewalk came about when students walking to the middle and high school were seen walking in the street along Park Drive. They don’t really have any other choice, unless they walk in the grass. The most ideal way to make this situation safer and more effective is a sidewalk beginning at the American Legion parking lot and continuing down Park Drive on the left-hand side.
Hopefully, they’ll be able to start construction this spring, and by the end of summer, there will be a brand new sidewalk. There are many plans that the New Haven Park Administration had to consider, including grading plans, erosion and sediment control plans, and plans for how the sidewalk will look and be constructed.
The sidewalk should benefit students who walk to school, runners on the cross-country and track teams, and community members who walk through the park as a part of their fitness routine. Patricia Weatherly, someone who walks to school avidly, stated, “There is always so much traffic there after and before school, with the students driving home and the buses passing through. A sidewalk would benefit everyone.” Bobby Pruessner, a sophomore at NHHS, said, “I don’t walk, but every day I see kids walking to and from school in the road or on the grass, and I’m sure putting a sidewalk in would make it much easier for them.”
Another project Mr. Roth is proposing is a walking trail through the park. Acquiring grants is usually the first step of any community project such as this one. The first grant received from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources was obtained last fall. This allowed for more detailed plans to be made. However, New Haven still needed one more grant to fund the trail. Steve Roth went to Jefferson City March 7th to apply for the next grant, and unfortunately, the city didn’t receive the grant. This may hinder progression to construction. When asked how he felt about this upset, Mr. Roth responded, “I was disappointed. However, I also gained an understanding of how to make our project better for the next grant round.”
The trail is expected to be about about one kilometer, or a little more than half a mile. The trail will go by the swimming pool, cross a small creek that goes around the perimeter of Bail Park, and end near Bock Field. “One very cool feature we hope to build is a bridge that will cross the creek between Bock and Bail Fields,” stated Steve Roth. Anyone can benefit from the trail: walkers, joggers, runners, NHHS sports teams, bikers, you name it.
The next phases of these projects will soon commence. By the time school starts again next fall, walkers will know they’re safe and trail users won’t have to travel so far to find a quality trail.
-by Lucy Roth
Hopefully, they’ll be able to start construction this spring, and by the end of summer, there will be a brand new sidewalk. There are many plans that the New Haven Park Administration had to consider, including grading plans, erosion and sediment control plans, and plans for how the sidewalk will look and be constructed.
The sidewalk should benefit students who walk to school, runners on the cross-country and track teams, and community members who walk through the park as a part of their fitness routine. Patricia Weatherly, someone who walks to school avidly, stated, “There is always so much traffic there after and before school, with the students driving home and the buses passing through. A sidewalk would benefit everyone.” Bobby Pruessner, a sophomore at NHHS, said, “I don’t walk, but every day I see kids walking to and from school in the road or on the grass, and I’m sure putting a sidewalk in would make it much easier for them.”
Another project Mr. Roth is proposing is a walking trail through the park. Acquiring grants is usually the first step of any community project such as this one. The first grant received from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources was obtained last fall. This allowed for more detailed plans to be made. However, New Haven still needed one more grant to fund the trail. Steve Roth went to Jefferson City March 7th to apply for the next grant, and unfortunately, the city didn’t receive the grant. This may hinder progression to construction. When asked how he felt about this upset, Mr. Roth responded, “I was disappointed. However, I also gained an understanding of how to make our project better for the next grant round.”
The trail is expected to be about about one kilometer, or a little more than half a mile. The trail will go by the swimming pool, cross a small creek that goes around the perimeter of Bail Park, and end near Bock Field. “One very cool feature we hope to build is a bridge that will cross the creek between Bock and Bail Fields,” stated Steve Roth. Anyone can benefit from the trail: walkers, joggers, runners, NHHS sports teams, bikers, you name it.
The next phases of these projects will soon commence. By the time school starts again next fall, walkers will know they’re safe and trail users won’t have to travel so far to find a quality trail.
-by Lucy Roth
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