Dear Meridian Kessler Neighbors, CFI School 84 Parents/Staff, IHM School Parents/Parishioners, SJOA School Parents/Parishioners and CFI School 70 Parents/Staff,

YOUR URGENT HELP IS NEEDED!

In 2012, the Safe Routes to School federal program awarded IPS CFI #84, CFI #70, Immaculate Heart of Mary School, St. Thomas Aquinas School & St. Joan of Arc School a total of $120,000 infrastructure grants. The grants are compatible with the objective to provide infrastructure that encourages children to walk or bike to school.

Within Meridian Kessler there are four Safe Routes to School (SRTS) projects that are shovel-ready!

The District 2 projects:

1. New sidewalks from 54th St to 57t on both sides along Central Ave. Both projects relate to IPS School 84 and Immaculate Heart of Mary School. *Note the attached photo is one example of sidewalk and street disrepair on Central Ave.
2. New sidewalks from Meridian St to College Ave on both sides of 57th St

The District 7 project:

1. Pave the alley between Park and Central from 42nd to 44th relating to St Joan of Arc School
2. Provide new sidewalks on both sides of Park Ave from 44th to 46th, relating to IPS CFI School 70.

These four SRTS projects have progressed to the point that design of the sidewalk improvements is virtually completed utilizing the federally funded grants (estimated at 15-20% of the total cost). The remainder of the funds must come from City sources allocated to the Department of Public Works.

In a few weeks, the City-County Council and the Mayor will be crafting a 2018 budget. PLEASE sign the attached petition and add any comments requesting budgetary support for these projects.

In addition, PLEASE email your respective CCC, Public Works Committee Chair Adamson and Mayor Joe Hogsett. They are critical for getting the City to fund implementation of any and preferably all of these projects in 2018.

Two are in Council District 2 (CCC Colleen Fanning at fanningindy@gmail.com and fanning4council@gmail.com - use both!). The third is in Council District 7 (CCC Joe Simpson at jesimp7754@sbcglobal.net ) Other important contacts are CCC Zach Adamson, Chair of the Public Works Committee at adamsonforindy@aol.com and Mayor Joe Hogsett, who can be contacted via this link: http://www.indy.gov/eGov/Mayor/getintouch/Pages/ContactUs.aspx

Thanks for your help to secure support for these improvements for the schools and the MK neighborhood.

Jerrey Finnegan
Chair, MKNA Infrastructure Committee

Karen Leone
MK Neighborhood Advocate & Resident since 1992