Sidewalk Improvements Continue In Lakewood

LAKEWOOD, OH — Lakewood has rightfully earned a reputation as the most pedestrian friendly city in Ohio. The city was even named the most walkable city in the Buckeye State by Walk Score, a website that tracks and grades the walkability of cities across the nation.

The sidewalk program began in 2013. Mayor Mike Summers said the goal was to make Lakewood the most pedestrian-friendly city possible.

“We began this project in 2013, and we made some improvements to make it more efficient, more cost-effective and more simple moving forward," Summers said in a statement in April. "We took a more customer-centric approach this year versus a more regulatory approach."

To keep the city walkable, Lakewood's ambitious sidewalk repair program aims to keep all 180 miles of sidewalk in a pedestrian-friendly shape. Councilman-at-large Tom Bullock provided an update on the city's sidewalk program as of summer 2017.

Sidewalk work began in earnest on May 1 with crews finishing work that was left incomplete in 2016. Contractors are currently working their way through zone 4.

Bullock said in an email that sections 12 and 20 will be completed next. work will continue through Nov. 1 to complete those sections.

The city has also begun marking and inspecting sidewalks in the 2018 zones. The map indicates which zones will be worked on next year by marking them with orange hash marks. Homes with sidewalks marked with an orange hash will receive an information pamphlet and a detailed letter in March or April 2018 with information on costs and deadlines.

Residents with trip hazards will fall into one of three categories: Grinding the seams of the sidewalk (at approximately $35 per seem); some sidewalks will need leveled (an estimated $100 per slab) or replaced (approximately $200).

More information on Lakewood's sidewalk strategy is available here.

Photo from Tom Bullock, Lakewood