HARRISVILLE, Utah -– Parents and officials at a school that services three Utah cities are concerned about the potentially dangerous road many children are walking to school on.
The students who attend Majestic Elementary School come from Pleasant View, North Ogden and Harrisville, and many who walk to school travel along 2550 North, which is a road that doesn’t have a sidewalk.
Dave Wallace, the principal of the school, said they are hoping to change that.
“Our school rests in Harrisville, the road is owned by Pleasant View, and the students most impacted are in North Ogden City--so it’s taking a collaborative effort throughout our community,” he said.
Wallace said plans for a sidewalk are coming together, and he said the North Ogden City Council has agreed to donate $30,000 toward the project.
“It’s been talked about for a couple years now, because it’s a busy street,” said Brent Taylor, who is the Mayor of North Ogden City.
Liz Putnam is the PTA President, and she said that until about a year ago, students living in undeveloped areas were bussed to school. But after the road was built, parents had to make other arrangements.
“In the neighborhood that’s affected, there’s a lot of single moms that work two jobs,” she said. “A lot of them are going to school at night too, and so that meant getting their kids to and from school safely a big, big problem.”
The school is contributing by raising $3,000 for the project, and the North Ogden chapter of the Kiwanis Club has contributed $1,500. Fundraisers are also a part of the effort, including one such event held Wednesday at the school.
“Wear a hat and give a dollar,” Putnam said. “All of that will raise money for our walking path. Lots of kids are wearing really crazy hats.”
Wallace said every penny counts toward completing a very important project.
“Safety is paramount importance,” he said. “We always have to emphasize safety within our school, but also getting to school. And we want our kids to be able to walk without any safety hazards to be concerned about, and to get to and from school in good shape.”
Several bids for the sidewalk are being accepted, and it is hoped that work on constructing it will begin in the coming weeks and ahead of the arrival of cold weather.
