Vendor raises safety concerns as Greenwood Street draws festival traffic

Matt Reminiak, a Junction City resident and longtime vendor at the Scandinavian Festival, told the council Sept. 9 that Greenwood Street’s condition is a safety hazard for people using wheelchairs, transit chairs, walkers and strollers.

Reminiak described two incidents during the festival where a wheelchair and a transit-assist chair struck hazards on Greenwood; in one case volunteers and festival goers had to reattach a large wheelchair wheel, and in another they lifted the transit chair out of a hole. “That street is a hazard,” Reminiak said, saying many festival attendees—some using mobility devices—regularly cross Greenwood to reach the bank, post office and day care near the festival route.

Reminiak told the council he had spoken with public works and was told Greenwood repairs were tied to an upcoming water project: if the council declines the water project, Greenwood’s priority ranking for repair would rise. He urged councilors to consider the needs of people using assistive devices when discussing the water project and offered to walk the street with staff and councilors.

Mayor and staff thanked Reminiak for bringing the issue forward and encouraged follow-up; councilors later returned to Greenwood Street during council comments to discuss coordination with project scheduling and interim repair options such as cold patch or hot mix.

Next steps: Staff indicated Greenwood will be considered as part of the larger project package; if the water project moves forward, repairs would be coordinated with that work; if not, Greenwood’s priority for standalone repair would be reassessed.