Because of the concern for the safety of school-children, bicyclists and pedestrians using the pathway along Douglas Way at night, the Waluga Neighborhood Association (WNA) was successful in being awarded an Neighborhood Enhancement Grant to help fund this project. Along the east half of Douglas, a narrow pathway is separated from the street by only a small asphalt curb. This pathway is the main access to Lake Grove Elementary School and also passes in front of Village Montessori School. Children who attend pre-school or after-school activities have to walk home through the dark.
Two more streetlights on the east side of Douglas were installed. The map below shows the location of existing streetlights, plus the new light locations.
Note: Heavy tree canopy blocks the streetlights on Quarry Road so that Douglas Way is not lit.
The new LED streetlights can be precisely focused with shields to illuminate the street and pathway without shining on neighborhood homes or backyards. We felt that lighting this pathway is essential for safety, especially since there are two schools for young children located here.
The raised curb that separates the pathway from the road is black and almost impossible to see at night. This is a tripping hazard that could also be reduced by better lighting. We had hoped to install a light on the telephone pole in front of Village Montessori School, but the pole has a large conduit which makes it unsuitable for a streetlight.