Moms Rally to Restore Stop Signs along 76th Avenue

A group of Palos Heights parents determined to bring stop signs back to a busy stretch of road have turned to social media to promote their cause.

Longtime resident Juliette Fry formed the Facebook group “Moms For a Safer Palos”, rallying residents to fight for the reinstatement of stop signs along 76th Avenue, specifically in the area of Ishnala Drive and 123rd Street.

All stop signs along 76th Avenue from Rte 83 to 135th Street were removed following a vote last month by the Palos Heights City Council.

Several of the signs were pulled from what Fry and her neighbors describe as “high traffic areas” located at the specific cross streets. A petition has been started to show support for putting the signs back.

“...These stop signs are needed to protect pedestrian and automobile traffic as they have for more than 25 years,” reads the petition.

“Our kids inspired me to improve the safety of our community and provide a greater good for all residents, especially the children who use the street we live on as a direct route to the parks and pool,” Fry told Patch. “The neighbors are all very close and we are all protective of one another’s children, so in addition to our children I wanted to help everyone with an organized effort.”

The group is not alone in their concern. Mayor Robert Straz has said he would like to see the signs back up at 123rd Street, and possibly at Ishnala/Sequoia drives at entrances into the Ishnala and Palos Pine residential subdivisions, south of 127th Street. Aldermen have said IDOT dictate the removal of the signs, as well as the blocking of a popular path into Community Park. Removal of the stop signs increased the danger of the area for anyone on foot or bike, residents said.

Their removal is in accordance with the Federal Aid Urban (FAU) rules that provided matching funds for Palos Heights’ efforts to reconstruct 76th Avenue with improved storm drainage. Any FAU route is a through street, designated as such by state and federal transit agencies, reports The Regional News.

Fry’s main concern is bringing back the stop signs for the safety of children and others biking or playing in the area.

“I hope to communicate awareness for improved neighborhood safety on our roadways, particularly those leading to parks and amenities along with areas where a concentration of children play and live,” she said.

“I’ve been a resident of Palos Heights on 76th Avenue for 15 years, I have a keen view of the impact of removing these particular signs and have to say it’s more than a serious concern.”

You can find the Facebook group and petition here.