Local runner feels safe on trails during daytime but calls attention to uneven sidewalks
Prajukta Ghosh
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — After the City of St. Joseph launched a new initiative aimed at making park facilities safer for its users, a local runner said she generally feels comfortable running on the trails during the day.
Despite the general sense of safety while out running, Terra James pointed out that there are still uneven sidewalks around town that can be hazardous and lead to injuries, regardless of the time of day.
“I will admit at nighttime, when it does get dark, I do not feel as safe running. I do try my best to run during the daytime hours and I do feel at risk,” James said.
James said the biggest issue she’s noticed when it comes to safety is uneven sidewalks around town that can be dangerous and lead to injuries, no matter the time of day.
James said when runners choose the road over the sidewalk, it is not meant to frustrate drivers. In many cases, it is simply because the sidewalks are difficult to run on.
“There’s a lot of issues running on Ashland. They are uneven and there’s a lot of issues with some of sidewalks, and I understand some of it falls to the city and some of it falls to owners and I know eventually they will get worked on,” James said.
Parks Director Jeff Atkins said residents are encouraged to report any issues they notice in parks or along bike trails.
“We got so much area out there, we just can’t be everywhere at all times, so we rely on our users. I know Terra personally and she has called us before to tell us,” Atkins said.
He added if a sidewalk is owned by a private property owner, there is little the city.
According to Atkins, neighborhoods like Ashland and Noyes often have sidewalks, which fall under different responsibilities and ownerships.
In some cases, the parks department owns the land, but maintenance of the sidewalk is still the responsibility of the homeowner.
“There’s not a lot I can do about the walk in front of your house, but as far as the hike and bike trails, the walks are clearly on parks responsibility and those type of things,” Atkins added.
Atkins also said there have been no financial discussions yet regarding a safety initiative for parks and recreation.
While funding plays an important role, he said much of the work can be done without major investments.
“The tree work, for example, or moving brush farther back, especially with the hike and bike trails, we try to maintain a certain width and height distance. We can do a lot of that without investing much other than labor,” Atkins said.
He mentioned the department is just beginning its budget process for the upcoming year, making this an ideal time to identify areas that need more attention.
Concerns can then be submitted as supplemental requests in the new budget, beginning in July.