Marius and Grace Kuroski have a vision for pedestrian traffic along Lakeshore Drive that’s already received public support. Convincing city council, however, is another matter.
In a letter to the city, the Kuroskis, who live on Lakeshore, explain how they see daily a “large and constant amount of pedestrian traffic on this narrow and winding road everyday.”
Instead of demanding something be done, the Kuroskis offer a solution. They suggest using the available space between Lakeshore and the CP Rail tracks to construct a suspended, boardwalk-style walkway with “greenery, Victorian-inspired street lamps and seating fixtures.”
One option, suggest the Koroskis, would be to run the walkway along Lakeshore Drive up to 23rd Avenue NE.
“Besides addressing immediate issues, this walkway could also pave the way for future development and change of the area between Lakeshore Drive to Lakeshore Boulevard,” state the Kuroskis.
The letter includes an illustration of the proposal, as well as a petition supporting the proposal with 335 signatures.
At council’s Nov. 28 meeting, Coun. Alan Harrison recommended the proposal be forwarded to the city’s budget process, adding it would be important to know which property frontages on Lakeshore have already been purchased by the city.
“And I do really appreciate the petition piece,” said Harrison. “I think sometimes it would be useful if, on the petition, the petitioner would include what the cost of doing the work would be, because maybe not everybody would sign it if they knew how much it was going to cost. I’m not sure about that.
“It sounds like a fantastic idea and I think it’s a great idea. But the cost is a part that we’re wrestling with here, so if we could refer that to the budget process I know it would be useful.”
Harrison has been vocal about moving ahead plans for a sidewalk identified in the city’s greenways strategy for Lakeshore.
Former Coun. Ivan Idzan confirmed the most recent estimated cost for that is $2.4 million.
He questioned if building along the bank would require permission from CP Rail. City administrator Carl Bannister said typically, when the city works close to a CPR right of way, CPR is invited to comment, noting there may be areas in the proposal that encroach on CPR’s right of way and would require approval.