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A stretch of sidewalk in South Lawrence is missing an entire section of concrete. The area is approximately five feet by four feet and is completely overgrown by grass and weeds. The sidewalk did not recently deterriorate it has been lacking this section of concrete for at least three years. The probelm area is located between Target and The Reserve apartment complex on 33rd Street.
The purpose of a sidewalk is to keep pedestrians off the road. When a sidewalk is missing a section in the middle of a block, pedestrians are forced to walk in the street.
At first sight the sidewalk looks sturdy and continuous, however, among closer inspection, passers-by will notice an entire stretch of sidewalk is missing in the middle of the block. When walking, running, biking or rollerblading on the sidewalk it is difficult to see the missing section until you are occupying a neighboring square of the walk. The sidewalk proves to be a hazard to anyone using it and could lead to a runner twisting an ankle, a biker being caught off guard and flung from a bike, or a rollerblader stumbling on the area occupied by weeds and grasses. Sidewalks are suppose to be smooth and continuous, but this stretch of walk is bumpy and disjointed. A person in a wheelchair could certainly not utilize the sidewalk nor could anyone using a walker or pushing a stroller.
Walt Ward, engineering aid at the City of Lawrence available at 785-832-3125, said he would certainly look into the problem and get back to me as soon as he knew the time frame in which it would be fixed. Until the sidewalk is repaired students living at The Reserve and residents at the mobile home neighborhood in the Target area will have to find an alternate route or walk, bike and rollerblade in the street. Avid runner and Chaska, Minn. senior Meghan Moore claims the sidewalk gap has been a hindrence for years. "When I first started running in the area my foot landed on its side and I nearly twisted my ankle, now that I know it's there I am better prepared and know to run around it.