photos and caption by Bill Cleary
AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN-Traveling around Gloucester City on Tuesday, February 20, with my camera, I noticed some of the sidewalks surrounding the parks and playgrounds have not been cleared of snow or ice. Also I noticed part of the sidewalk that surrounds the Gloucester City Fire Department on King Street hasn\’t been touched either.
Top photo is the sidewalks surrounding the Lane and Thompson Avenue playground. The middle photo the Martins Lake playground, East Brown Street sidewalk. The last photo Ellis Street sidewalk behind the City Fire Department.
Why can\’t the Highway Department employees clear the snow/ice off of all sidewalks that are owned by the City of Gloucester? As it is now they just do a few.The sidewalk on either side of the playground on Lane and Thompson Avenue has never been cleared of snow as far as I can remember. In recent years this corner has become a designated bus stop for children going to and from City schools. In the early morning and afternoon the children and parents have to walk in the street because this sidewalk is nothing but ice. In the past the snow could be several inches deep and still the City doesn\’t maintain it.
There are other sidewalks that children use daily like on Market Street from Walnut Avenue across Rt. 130 to the City High School. Nicholson Road bridge sidewalk is also a sheet of ice/snow. This is every winter not just this year.
If someone should fall on one of these sidewalks and get injured I would imagine the City would be held libel.
I would also assume if someone is walking in the street because the sidewalk owned by the City isn\’t suitable for pedestrians to use, the City would be held accountable. Why take the chance?
A City ordinance requires properties owners to clear their sidewalks of snow/ice. The City should be required to do the same.
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION?
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