Sidewalks by NW Bend school closed for upgrades

A city of Bend project to upgrade sidewalks to Americans with Disabilities Act standards around High Lakes Elementary is leaving some parents wondering why the construction crews couldn’t have waited for school to get out for the summer.

Several sections of sidewalks in front of and around the school were closed Wednesday afternoon, and a couple dozen kids and their parents headed for home on the blacktop.

In front of the school, construction crews held stop signs and directed traffic, although parents told NewsChannel 21 they hadn’t seen workers do that before.

“People are driving really fast,” said parent Natalie Dent. “My kids can’t use the sidewalks, so usually in the morning I have to kind of help them navigate down to the school, and I don’t normally have to do that.”

“They (the city) should have waited,” Dent said.

High Lakes Elementary students will get out for the summer next week, but the city started the project near the school about a week ago.

“What is really ironic is that school is out next Thursday and they could have waited until then to start this project,” parent David Gilchrist said in an email to NewsChannel 21. “This is a very dangerous situation for kids that walk to school. Most are walking in the middle of the streets.”

City staff told KTVZ they had considered waiting until school was out, but ultimately decided the project needed to be finished as soon as possible.

Streets Division Manager Hardy Hanson said crews have a lot of projects to coordinate and only a short construction season.

“We have to spend the money before July 1,” Hanson said of the sidewalk updates. “Everything has to be done before the fiscal year ends.”

Parent Claire Spampinato said she always walks her student home.

“It’s kind of a hassle to have every corner on the way to school obstructed,” Spampinato said.

Other parents said although the timing of the project seems odd, they’re not upset.

“It will be over in a few days, so I just walk with my daughter to school — it’s been fine” Jenny Mudd said. “I don’t have a problem with it.”

Parent Bill Hartrich said, “It’s annoying, but there’s worse things to get upset about.”

Hanson said the project should be wrapped up in the next couple weeks. He added that the city completes hundreds of blocks of ADA-compliant sidewalks each year to bring Bend up to standard.