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Residents urge continuous sidewalks on Prospect Road after 12-year-old's death; city to review maps and requests
Summary
Prospect Road residents told council that disconnected sidewalks force pedestrians, children and people using wheelchairs into traffic; they asked the city to prioritize continuous sidewalks and accessibility improvements.
Two residents told Strongsville City Council on May 19 that gaps in sidewalks on Prospect Road create dangerous conditions for children, cyclists, people using wheelchairs and others who travel by foot or wheels.
Angela Allenson and her husband, Benjamin Allenson, presented satellite-derived maps showing where sidewalks stop and called for the city to provide continuous sidewalks and safer crossings. Angela Allenson said the gaps force people into a 35 mph roadway and recalled the death of 12-year-old Donovan Escander two years ago, saying, "His death was preventable. It was the direct result of infrastructure that prioritizes cars over kids." The Allensons said they would send the maps to council by email and asked the city to act before another tragedy occurs.
The couple also described a neighbor who uses a wheelchair and has no safe public route to leave his driveway, calling the situation an accessibility issue as well as a child-safety concern. They asked for modest, continuous sidewalks on a major residential street that connects neighborhoods to schools and stores.
Council acknowledged receipt of the visual materials and requested copies. No formal vote or ordinance was taken at the meeting; the presentation was recorded during the public-comment portion of the agenda. Mayor and staff indicated they would accept the materials for review.
What happens next: the Allensons will deliver the sidewalk maps to city staff and council; staff review and next-step recommendations were not specified at the meeting.
