Hello neighbors and friends in Elm Grove,

Over the past several years that my family has lived in Elm Grove, from our unique vantage point living at the intersection of Gremoor, Hollyhock, and Legion, we have become increasingly aware of an acute safety-focused need for a protected pedestrian path on Gremoor Drive. A recent similar petition was circulated for a potential path on Hollyhock to North and was approved due to neighborhood attendance at the public safety meeting and additional online petition support, ultimately resulting in village funds to be allocated for its construction.

The Village Public Safety Council will be discussing this proposal on Thursday, September 13. Please sign this petition prior to then to show your support. Some of the points I will bring up with the Public Safety Committee are as follows, and I welcome any further input on additional reasons to support such a project.

• Tonawanda children and recreational walkers/cyclists/strollers regularly walk on the "shoulder" of the road closest to my house (13380 Gremoor). The bend in the road on our block combined with any sort of distracted driving has caused many near-misses (I have almost been hit along with my children).
• Cars will park on this "shoulder" during Tonawanda pickup and other Tonawanda events, forcing pedestrians or children on bikes to either travel in the center of the road or go into the steep drainage ditch.
• About an hour prior to sunset, the sun is directly ahead of drivers on Gremoor. This leads to blinding/distraction. This is especially problematic during winter months when Tonawanda children are released from school at times when the sun is in this position.
• After sunset, numerous people still go out for walks or walk their dogs. The bend in the road combined with lowered visibility is a hazard for pedestrians.
• Our community is a vibrant one, with a unique small-town feel within a large metro area. Sidewalks and pedestrian paths help foster community and interaction by allowing neighbors to meet each other on shared pedestrian spaces.
• Elm Grove has many new residents, a significant portion of them having children, and their safety should be of utmost concern to us as neighbors and friends.

Sarah Wynia Smith

13380 Gremoor Dr, Elm Grove WI 53122