Camdenton, School District apply for MoDOT sidewalk grant to connect campuses

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

A safer walking route for Camdenton students traveling back and forth between campuses may be a future reality.

Camdenton city and school district officials recently applied for a grant to fund a significant sidewalk construction project to connect the high school to middle and elementary school campuses along Laker Pride Drive and potentially provide students with easier and safer passage. . . .

“We’re collaborating with LOREDC and Camdenton R-III for a sidewalk to connect the high school campus to the junior high and elementary school campus,” Parks Director Larry Bennett said, recently updating city officials on his collaboration with the school.

Link: 

Camdenton, School District apply for MoDOT sidewalk grant to connect campuses

MoBikeFed comment: Camdenton is in a similar situation to many schools across Missouri: Schools are placed on the outskirts of town, surrounded by fields, and not connected to the rest of the city or the neighborhoods they serve.

Often these schools are placed on or along state highways that lead out of town, meaning that these roads carry heavy, fast traffic and include no provisions for bicycling or walking.

The end result is that it becomes impossible for students to walk or bicycle to school.

After years of living with situations like this, many cities and school districts around Missouri and now routinely applying for federal funds to help rectify the situation. A few of the more forward-thinking routinely plan their new school buildings to take bicycling and walking connections to the community into account.

More information about the national Safe Routes to School movement here:

http://saferoutesinfo.org/