Child's Art Shows Disapproval of Sidewalk Construction

Residents of lower Elmwood Avenue have spoken out against a project to build a sidewalk along their street by coming to Borough Council meetings and encouraging council members to rethink their decision. Now, they are combating the plan by making temporary changes to the visual landscape near their homes.

A resident of the road—who neighbors identified as the daughter of Duncan Robertson, who lives at 93 Elmwood Ave.—painted faces on some of the tree logs that are now strewn about the Robertson yard.

Mouths depicted on the pieces of wood are open in what appears to be fear.

Robertson did not return calls for comment. But neighbors have said in the past they feel the Borough Council has not adequately considered other options to the sidewalk plan.

The sidewalk is intended to alleviate congestion—and danger to young children walking home—along Elmwood Avenue between Milton Avenue and Weston Avenue during the end of the school day at nearby Milton Avenue Elementary School.

"It just seems like we're rushing into this," Elmwood Avenue resident Robert Labus said at a Borough Council meeting Aug. 9.

Borough Engineer Vincent DeNave said work on the actual sidewalk would begin toward the end of this week and would be finished by the end of next week. In order for the sidewalk to be placed through the neighbors' yards on the street, however, four trees needed to be cut down, and two of those are on the Robertson property.

Mayor Nelson Vaughan, however, said he feels installing the sidewalk is important.

"I was shocked that they didn't build (the sidewalks) two years ago," he said.

Vaughan, who lives nearby, said he saw that the tree had been cut down. He had not, however, seen the sad faces drawn on the trees.

"I heard about them," he said. "I guess that displays a sense of humor and I hope people will see it in the light of trees don't live forever."

The School District of the Chathams has supported the plan, saying it will encourage children to walk home in a car-free area.

Superintendent Jim O'Neill he hopes the sidewalks will discourage accidents on what has become a congested road at the end of the school day.

The borough has already restricted parking along the east side of Elmwood Avenue and approved a plan to add 23 parking spaces in the area in an effort to get cars off of Elmwood.