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Residents urge Leawood council to accelerate sidewalks and pedestrian safety on Lee Boulevard after serious crash
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Summary
Residents told the Leawood governing body on April 6 that a recent crash on Lee Boulevard underlines a need for sidewalks and other pedestrian-safety measures; speakers praised a speed-limit change but said it is not enough and urged creative funding and grant-seeking.
At the April 6 Leawood governing-body meeting, residents pressed the council to speed up sidewalk and pedestrian-safety improvements along Lee Boulevard after a recent crash.
Ryan Omert, a resident who spoke during public comment, described a serious collision and told the council the neighborhood needs better walkways. "It is imperative that we continue to push hard and fast to make the right decision to keep all the residents and all the pedestrians safe in this area," Omert said, citing a local family that must cross the street multiple times to reach a nearby fire station and community garden.
Beth Strobel, who lives on East Lee Boulevard, thanked the council for a recent reduction in the speed limit but said the change does not address the lack of sidewalks. "It doesn't change the fact that it's still not safe to cross Lee Boulevard," Strobel said, describing daily crossings with her 6‑year‑old and how long they sometimes must wait to cross.
Amy Rosen Reid, also speaking for neighbors on the opposite side of Lee Boulevard, said her daughter told her that walking in the neighborhood felt like choosing "to do something illegal or die," underscoring the emotional toll on families. Reid referenced budget discussions the council held earlier about constrained revenue (she cited HB 2745 as part of the background on funding pressures) and urged officials to prioritize pedestrian safety while seeking grants and creative funding.
Mayor Mark Elkins and staff listened to the speakers and thanked them for participating. No formal vote or motion to fund specific sidewalk projects occurred at the meeting; council members responded in later agenda items that staff would take resident comments into account as they pursue neighborhood safety solutions.
The council did not adopt a new capital project or set a funding plan at this meeting; residents asked the council to continue exploring short-term and longer-term options, including grant avenues, to provide safer crossings and sidewalks on Lee Boulevard.
