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Knowles residents ask city to expedite ADA ramp and safety fixes at Simsbury Court trail exit near Hope Elementary
Summary
Knowles neighborhood residents urged expedited safety work at the Simsbury Court trail exit used by students walking and biking to Hope Elementary, citing a steep dirt apron and existing falls; staff said the location will be included in the annual curb ramp project.
Residents from the Knowles homeowners association urged the commission to expedite safety improvements at the Simsbury Court trail exit that leads to Quarry Creek and is used by students to reach Hope Elementary.
Kurt Rossi, who lives adjacent to the trail exit, described a dirt apron with a steep slope, exposed boulders and no crosswalk or ADA access at the top of the trail where it meets the curb; he said the lack of a formal access point has already led to falls and near‑misses, particularly involving children on e‑bikes. Tom Gibbs, president of the Knowles HOA, urged staff to accelerate design and construction of an accessible access point ahead of the school year given the risk to families who use the route.
"We were hoping that this might have been implemented by the beginning of this school year," Gibbs said. Staff responded that the location was identified as an improvement in the Hope Elementary Safe Routes to School plan and that the city has been in contact with the HOA; engineering staff said they plan to include an ADA‑accessible access point as part of the annual curb ramp project.
Commissioners thanked the residents and asked staff to follow up on timing and to coordinate with the HOA. One commissioner later reiterated interest in exploring paving a short dirt section of the Marin trail to improve the connection to the school, noting that improving that path could reduce driving distance and drop‑off demand to the school if more families used the trail.
