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November 28, 2004
The Hour Editorial Page - Another View
Neighborhood group makes it happen
If you’ve recently walked or driven along that dangerous speedway that runs between Westport Avenue and the Metro North railroad overpass at Winfield Street (aka Strawberry Hill Avenue) you’ll have noticed enhanced and newly erected traffic safety signs – thanks to the work of the East Norwalk Neighborhood Association.
The ENNA approached the City of Norwalk shortly after we organized in the fall of 2003 about speeding along Strawberry Hill Avenue and the safety of students who walk alongside the traffic and cross the street in the school zones. Several schools – Norwalk High, Naramake Elementary, Nathan Hale Middle School and Gibbs College – are located along this section of road.
The ENNA successfully worked with the Public Works Department to create school zone signs with bright yellow reflective material attached to the posts so that drivers couldn’t miss the fact that there are children walking here. The ENNA explored the addition of a traffic signal at Strawberry Hill Avenue and Tierney Street, brought to the attention of the Mayor’s Neighborhood Preservation Committee the need for more crosswalks and crosswalk enhancements to make walking safer – and contacted the Police Department, advocating for beefed-up enforcement regarding speeding vehicles.
For several months, the ENNA pushed for improved signage near the Metro North railroad bridge that passes over Strawberry Hill Avenue. Truck drivers, unaware of the low overhead, regularly sped under the bridge only to get stuck – or scatter pieces of shrapnel-like debris from the top of their over-height vehicles along the road, putting pedestrians and other drivers in danger. The resulting new signs, erected by the City, show a picture of railroad tracks to better alert truck drivers of the low overhead so that they can then take an alternate route.
Just a block over, on East Avenue at the Metro North railroad bridge, a new crosswalk helps commuters cross the street more safely. The ENNA had advocated for a crosswalk at this location and included it in the association’s Master Plan recommendations document.
Last year the ENNA advocated for regular snow removal from sidewalks in critical areas such as walking routes to school. This winter sidewalks near the schools are more likely to be kept free of snow and ice because of the recent purchase by the city of new equipment for this purpose.
Recently, concerned parents approached the ENNA about a lack of an adequate footpath along Calf Pasture Beach Road for children walking to Marvin Elementary School. The ENNA alerted the city to this safety issue earlier this year and hopes to work with the city and residents toward a satisfactory outcome.
Even with police enforcement, sufficient signs, crosswalks and footpaths there is no guarantee that accidents won’t occur, but the risk of a tragedy is lessened with these preventative safety measures in place. The ENNA has been instrumental in the addition of several of these safety enhancements and continues to focus on traffic, speeding and school safety as priorities.
To get involved in any of the many activities of the East Norwalk Neighborhood Association please call (203) 855-7668 or visit the website at http://eastnorwalk.org.
Laurel Lindstrom, president
East Norwalk Neighborhood Association
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October 23, 2004
ENNA’s Fall Cleanup in the Wall Street area.
The East Norwalk Neighborhood Association recently organized a Fall Cleanup. On a crisp fall morning overlooking the Norwalk River approximately 20 volunteers met at Freese Park before fanning out in teams to pick up litter, weed-wack vegetation, rake leaves and sweep sidewalks along the streets of the Wall Street area of Norwalk. Crews from Public Works and LAZ Parking worked with the volunteers with street sweepers, and to cart away the bags of litter that accumulated as the morning progressed.
The volunteer teams included residents, business owners and employees from the Wall Street neighborhood. The Trolley Barn property was well represented, including three small children who worked industriously by helping to pick up litter for the entire three hour period. Other volunteers not living or working in the area also assisted in the cleanup effort.
At the end of a successful cleanup the volunteers met again at Freese Park to enjoy a lunch courtesy of The Original New York Bakery.
ENNA board members that participated in the Cleanup included Laurel Lindstrom, Gordon Tully, Marija Bryant and Erik Nees.
Laurel Lindstrom, association president, emphasized that cleanups are a staple of the neighborhood association and will be scheduled throughout the year at various locations in the neighborhoods of the southeast quadrant of Norwalk where the association serves. According to Lindstrom “a few hours work on a Saturday morning reaps many benefits. Cleanups bring the community together, and give participants valuable hands-on appreciation of a neighborhood’s assets that can be the catalyst for further improvements.”
Anyone that wants to suggest a cleanup location or to join in future ENNA cleanups is encouraged to go to the association website at www.calmtraffic.org to find contact information.
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September 29, 2004
Photo by Tod Bryant
Laurel Lindstrom, ENNA president addresses group
at ENNA Fall Gathering. ________________________________________
E. Norwalk neighbors prepare for year ahead
October 7, 2004
The Hour – Around Town section
More than 30 people attended
the East Norwalk Neighborhood Association's recent Fall Gathering – a "state of
the neighborhood" event – at the Town House on East Wall Street.
In addition to local residents, small business owners and elected officials took
part.
Mayor Alex Knopp, State Rep.
Bob Duff, D-137th, Councilmen Kevin Poruban and Matt Miklave, and
Third Taxing District Commissioners David Brown and Paul Coggin were present as
were representatives of eight nonprofit groups that the association has worked
with during the past year.
Display tables set up around the room to help visitors learn about each of the
nonprofit groups represented. Representatives from City Scan, Norwalk Clean &
Green, Norwalk Tree Alliance, SONICC, League of Women Voters of Norwalk, Norwalk
River Watershed Association, Norwalk Preservation Trust and Norwalk Historical
Society gave short presentations about the projects and programs that they offer
in the neighborhood.
Laurel Lindstrom, president of the association, opened the meeting, introducing
board members Marie DeLeo, Gordon Tully, Marija Bryant and Erik Nees.
"Our theme for this evening is a celebration of Neighborhood and of those that help make neighborhoods a better place to live and work,” Lindstrom said. “The State of the Neighborhood is excellent - in regard to its capacity to grow and strengthen."
Lindstrom elaborated on the
mission of the association stating that "some core concepts drive many of the
association's current activities. These include: strengthening the neighborhood
hubs that are composed of clusters of shops that serve the surrounding
residential homes; being proactive with zoning, development and traffic issues;
recognizing in all that we do that we can't operate in a vacuum and must keep
abreast of what is happening beyond our borders; building on our partnerships
with other not-for-profits and government agencies; and involving as many
residents, merchants, officials and others in our activities - because we're
only as strong as the depth and breadth of our member participation."
Knopp praised the association for the work it has done. He spoke of his
Neighborhood Preservation Task Force that works with neighborhoods in Norwalk to
register complaints that the city then turns into work orders to make the
necessary repairs.
Knopp spoke about a bus and walking tour that he had taken with the association, and of the neighborhood cleanups that the association had arranged earlier this year, all with assistance from city departments.
The mayor announced that
David Shockley, whose SONICC grant has expired, would be hired in a new position
as city coordinator to neighborhoods.
Duff, Brown, Coggin and Miklave provided updates and insights regarding the
neighborhood.
To get involved in the association, people may attend the monthly board
meetings, which are open to the public and take place the second Wednesday of
the month at 7:30 p.m. in Room 322 at City Hall. The next meeting is October 13.
For more information visit www.calmtraffic.org and click the ENNA link
Click here for more photos taken at Fall Gathering
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