It was an absolutely gorgeous day in north Moorhead yesterday, a great chance to get out of the house and play with my three year old son, Dylan. We decided on an adventure to Northeast Park and took off down the sidewalk with a dual mission. Most importantly, we were out to have a good time, get some exercise and fresh air. But I also brought a camera, knowing that our progress would be challenged by uncleared sidewalks and cutouts to the street. View the pictures and the story of our progress here.
What is it going to take for sidewalks to get cleared? Calling and complaining may or may not work. I hate to do it but I have called in several homeowners over the last few years for particularly egregious failure to remove snow (and dog poop) that affects my ability to use a shared community resource, the sidewalk. Did they get a talking to? A fine? Who knows. But I can tell you that the problems continue to exist in my neighborhood, and I am guessing they do in yours as well.
One night last week I stopped and confronted three young men about their unshoveled sidewalk across the street from Robert Asp Elementary, reminding them that small children use these paths to walk to school and that their inaction is affecting others. The young men hemmed and hawed about how they were trying, but they were college students, and their snowblower didn’t do a great job once the snow built up after several snowfalls. I responded that I use a shovel and went on my way. The problem remains. A friend down the street told me she had called in and complained about this same address several times, apparently to little or no effect.
So what is it going to take? Do we need a vigilante hero, a la Shovel Man and Sled Boy? Although it sounds like fun, a more viable solution would be to encourage the people around you to get out and walk on nice winter days, to experience the problem firsthand. Perhaps if your city council member walked to the store (or work, or wherever) they would be more in touch with this issue that affects the least among us, the young, the old, and the disabled.
Now get out there and move!
BRAVO!!!! Just to add a note I had heard that a city council person has spoke with the house across from Robert Asp and says it is going to get done. And just a note about a broken snow blower – well we live on a corner and our snow blower has been broken and shovels do wonders! My 14yr old shovels a neighbors, and he loves the little extra cash. Again – BRAVO!!!
Community Action Super Hero! Go get ‘em, Lukas!
Looks like a good time was had on your adventure, despite the shovel shirkers! I remember when you lived in a different neighborhood in a different city and when there was measurable snow the kids flocked to the neighbors with shovels in hand to earn some extra bucks. Keep the pressure on the elected officials! Squeaky wheels, etc.
Just an FYI – 802 did clean a shovel path late yesterday (1/27) – I guess it is better than better and now skinny people (not dressed for winter) can walk on their sidewalk. LOL It is hard to believe that I called the city 4X on that 1 property and I talked to a City Council person about it also.