Heartwarming: Neighbourhood Rallies Together To Keep Kids Walking To School On Road

TOTTENHAM—-In a recent petition, members of the Tottenham community asked town council to reconsider a proposal to have sidewalks placed in subdivisions surrounding a public school. An Erin Brockovich-level of community engagement was not enough to convince members of council to come off their pro-sidewalk high horse. Instead, they paved the way for the sidewalk installation in all likelihood due to pressure from a silent yet powerful, non-voting minority group known as children.

When residents and staff from Tottenham Public School requested council investigate sidewalks for student safety in 2001, council ultimately did not approve the initiative. What has changed between then and now?

“It’s my personal belief that council is in someone’s back pocket. Call it the kindergarten lobby, if you will,” Michael Korvic, a self-proclaimed freethinker living on Brown Street, expressed. “I’ve heard some council members even live with individuals who were just recently kindergarteners themselves. And yet, no conflict of interest.”

One anonymous senior citizen had this to say: “Half the young people are whining about sidewalks because the other half of the young people drive like maniacs. When I was their age, there were no sidewalks here. Heck, there were no houses. It was just farm fields and endless lush green forests to hike in. It was pretty nice, actually.” 

A common line of reasoning in deputations and online discussion argues that these streets have existed in their current state since the 1970s without issue and that retrofitting the original design would equate to fixing what is not broken. Opponents to sidewalks do not mind that the population of the town in 1970 was 1,200 people, while it currently sits around 10,000, nor do they note a difference in lifestyle or driving habits from then and now. 

“We’ve lived here for fifty years and, to my recollection, not one single kid has been hit by a car,” Bill Herring told sources. “And until one is, I simply can’t entertain the thought of sidewalks.” 

The largest complaint appears to be the loss of parking spaces in driveways where sidewalks are slated for construction, but the petition also mentions increased traffic due to parking on the road and a potential loss in property value.

 “Oh, yes, a high walkability score and a place for young families to push strollers are total poison for the value of your home,” Sam Rankin, a recently graduated real-estate agent, said. 

 After receiving feedback from the public, council decided to leave William Smart Road out of plans and to avoid needlessly removing mature trees as they proceed with the sidewalks. Still, many remain unsatisfied and some even plan to move elsewhere. 

“Sure, the town agreed to spare some of the trees, but where are my wife and I supposed to park our three vehicles? Sure, in our garage—-but we’d have to clean it out. And when are we going to find time for that? Well, yes, we’re retired. As you can see, it’s a messy situation,” Don O’Leary told the Alliston Gerald. 

Some believe that council is acting according to a hidden agenda bent on keeping children away from motorized vehicles.

“It’s clear kids need a safe place to ride their bikes, hop their hopscotch, and walk their dogs,” Barb Langstaff, a retired resident of the neighbourhood, told the Alliston Gerald. “But where are they going to park their cars?”