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New sidewalk finally a reality on State Route 170
By TIM CLEVELAND
Ever since Poland Seminary High School was built approximately 40 years ago, there has been a need for a sidewalk along the east side of State Route 170 parallel to the school.
That need is now being realized, with the construction of a new sidewalk. Construction began in early June and was expected to be completed by the end of July. Additional cosmetic work that was needed will push the final project to be done by September, in time for people to use it for the high school football season.
The sidewalk is approximately 1.2 miles long and 5 feet wide. It stretches from the Poland Village/Poland Township line to Dobbins Road with branches to Dobbins Elementary School.
“As far as the current project becoming a reality, much discussion over the years took place,” said Poland Township Trustee Bob Lidle, who helped spearhead the project. “In the late 1990s Poland Streetscapes reinvigorated the discussion prompting the Poland Township Trustees to seek a grant. When I campaigned for the position of Poland Township Trustee in 2001, I pledged to make the issue of sidewalks a high priority of mine while in office. As such, I researched and worked toward securing grant funding. I secured one grant from Eastgate Regional Development, however, the matching funds were a bit more than my colleagues were willing to spend. Thus I continued to research and came upon the Safe Routes to Schools grant. After three tries to obtain the grant we were successful.”
The SRTS grant is a fully funded [no local matching funds] grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, administered through the Ohio Department of Transportation with a maximum amount of $500,000. Poland Township initially was turned down, the second attempt Poland Township was awarded $24,000 to enhance the plan and on the third attempt Poland Township was awarded the full amount for construction. The cost associated with this project will come in at approximately $450,000.
To be completed, initially some drainage needed to be addressed in addition to clearing of brush and the building up of some low lying areas. Next was the actual digging of the sidewalks within the state right of way and then the application of the base material. Next was the forming and then pouring of the concrete and finally some landscaping around the sidewalks needed to take place.
Lidle said the new sidewalk will greatly benefit the community.
“The benefits to the community are enormous, beginning with safety,” he said. “Safety of our kids who walk, run or bike along 170 and equally to adults. To add to the safety, now the kids at Dobbins, who use Fire Station 92 as a safe haven, can get there in an orderly and safe fashion. Other benefits include allowing so many people regardless of age to be able to get access to either the Village and the High School or any points in between without the use of a car. One of my favorites was hearing people say they were driving to the high school to walk the track. Now they can add to their walk by using the sidewalk. In the end, this project will make our community a little safer and smaller, which was always my goal.”
Lidle wanted to make sure he credited the other people who were responsible for the sidewalk’s completion.
“Although I may have spearheaded this project, it isn’t without the support of many in this community that is making the long awaited sidewalk project get done,” he said. “Support from past trustees and current Trustee Eric Ungaro, along with past and present Poland School Board members and the superintendents, Poland Streetscapes and various other members of this community that aided in my efforts or always expressed support that kept me working toward this goal for many years. The Township and the School Board have taken a lead in securing the safety of our community, be through the School Resource Officer and now the sidewalk.
“It is my hope that the desire for sidewalks for the past 40 years will be replaced with the enjoyment that they will soon be in place and used for the next 40 years and longer. Again Poland is a great community and through these efforts we are now a little smaller and safer.”