Students, University of Arizona program push for safer walking routes to Mountain View Elementary

Roxy Leiva, of the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension SNAP‑Ed program, and students from Mountain View Elementary presented the results of a student-led walk audit and cleanup during the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors meeting on May 6, 2025.

The students and school principal said safety concerns — including missing crosswalks, broken sidewalks, speeding drivers and litter along the West Frontage Road route — keep most neighborhood students from walking to and from school. "Only about 10 students out of about 400 walk home after school," Principal Dominic Armijo told the board, and students reported they do not feel safe walking the route.

The presentation described the project’s objectives as improving student safety, promoting physical activity and engaging families. Leiva said the students used a walk‑audit tool from the Arizona Department of Health Services to evaluate sidewalks, crossings, bicycle and pedestrian safety, driver behavior and the route’s comfort and appearance. On the audit she presented, sidewalks scored 6 of 15, street crossings 6 of 21, bicycle safety 0 of 12, pedestrian safety 2 of 18, driver behavior 8 of 12 and comfort/appearance 5 of 24.

Students who spoke at the meeting listed specific local concerns: drivers texting while driving, lack of sidewalks and crosswalks, an uphill blind spot where a proposed speed bump could help, an isolated wheelchair ramp that does not connect to a crosswalk, and repeated damage to temporary signage placed during school hours. One student said walking would reduce vehicle pollution and improve health: "We will become more healthier by walking...we could exercise more." Another described feeling proud after helping clean litter because it helps wildlife and improves the trail.

Next steps described by SNAP‑Ed staff include submitting the assessments to the Arizona Department of Health Services for evaluation, then working with local and state governments to develop recommendations and to engage and educate the community about improvements. Principal Armijo and school staff were thanked by supervisors for organizing the students and for the cleanup initiative.

The presentation included a request to involve families and the broader community in establishing safe routes so seniors, wheelchair users and bicyclists can benefit as well.