Caldwell resident urges city to add lighting, sidewalks and parks in North End to improve safety and youth outlets

Miguel Orozco, a Caldwell resident who lives north of the train tracks, told the City Council he is campaigning for lighting, sidewalks, crosswalks and improved parks in the city’s North End and described those changes as public-safety and youth-engagement priorities.

Orozco said he titled his remarks “the land that time forgot” and described multiple specific locations he said lack adequate lighting or crosswalks, including Ninth and Chicago (behind Buy Mart), Kimball and Chicago (near the Rice House), Fifth and Chicago and the Centennial Road crossing used by people heading to the rotary ponds. He said poor lighting and unpaved sections of road force residents and schoolchildren to navigate unsafe conditions.

Nut graf: Orozco pressed the council for targeted investments—better street lighting, paved sidewalks and upgraded park facilities—to reduce public-safety risks and provide recreational and structured outlets for youth. He urged the council to use urban-renewal tools and existing budgets to start small, visible improvements and offered to help identify locations and rally community support.

Details and supporting points

- Specific concerns: Orozco recounted a recent pedestrian struck by a vehicle near Tacos del Rey and said better lighting and designated crosswalks could reduce risk. He provided photos comparing incandescent and LED street lighting to show differences in illumination.

- Recommended locations: He identified Ninth and Chicago (behind Buy Mart), Kimball and Chicago (by the Rice House), Fifth and Chicago, Freeport and Fifth, and the Centennial Road crossing near the rotary ponds as priority pedestrian locations.

- Road and sidewalk conditions: Orozco described unpaved roads in the North End that he said force children to walk in poor conditions to bus stops; he asked the council to consider paving and adding sidewalks.

- Parks and youth outlets: He recommended park upgrades that accommodate toddlers, young children and older children together, cited Lions Park improvements (shade structure, new grills, planned outdoor exercise equipment and a proposed futsal court) and suggested adding paths, dog-waste stations and age-appropriate play elements to increase daily park use.

Council and staff responses

Mayor and council members acknowledged the presentation and described follow-up steps: the mayor said public-works staff and the deputy director of streets were already discussing a lighting study and that the city would look at how to focus limited funds on the darkest locations. Councilor Doty and others confirmed urban-renewal work is ongoing; Doty said that if an urban-renewal district is approved it would proceed to council review.

Discussion versus direction versus decision

- Discussion: Orozco outlined safety and amenity problems in the North End and proposed specific locations and solutions.

- Direction/assignment: Council and staff indicated intent to evaluate lighting (a light study was mentioned), to consider locations identified by Orozco and to pursue ongoing urban-renewal work; council staff asked Orozco to provide a location punch list to help prioritize work.

- Formal action: No vote or formal appropriation was recorded during the presentation.

Ending

Council members thanked Orozco, noted recent and planned upgrades at Lions Park, and encouraged him to continue working with staff and council to identify priority locations and potential funding sources.