First sidewalk renovation project begins
Some of Vian’s sidewalks located near Vian Public Schools received some much-needed renovation last Monday.
Some of Vian’s sidewalks located near Vian Public Schools received some much-needed renovation last Monday.
“I attended a Walkability Summit with Jayna Tillman and Kim Netz of TSET Healthy Living Program of Sequoyah County. As a Public Health Educator for Cherokee Public Health I noticed that there are already some existing sidewalks in Vian that just needed some touch up to be usable again,” Isaac Barnoskie said. “I saw there was a need for a sidewalk leading to the school.”
Barnoskie said one morning he saw a boy run across the road and into a yard to avoid motor traffic.
“There’s a sidewalk up there but I hadn’t noticed it before,” he said. “It was covered with grass and just needed some touch up, so more kids will know it’s there and begin using it more often.”
Barnoskie said he pitched the idea at a Sequoyah County semi-annual economic development meeting a few days ago and people seemed to like it.
“Our first project was in Vian last Monday because the sidewalk leads to the school. Jeremy McElhaney with Town of Vian, and my office mate, Steven Hatcher, helped a great deal,” he said.
Barnoskie said together they cleared 156’ of sidewalk on Cherokee Street.
“We’re only halfway to the next street and we’re looking for more sidewalk renovation projects like this so we can build a safer, healthier community,” he said.
Barnoskie said it takes a lot of volunteers, property owners and businesses coming together to make it work. He said they met again on Tuesday morning to finish the section of sidewalk. He said they hope to have another project soon in the Sallisaw area.
