Nashville - See What Taking A Walk Can Do for Your Happiness!

Nashville, if this isn't arguement enough that getting out and taking a walk has benefits…

I don't know what is.

Pocket Parks

Amusement is important when talking a good walk. A smart view, a public park where one can see people congregating, frank window shopping, tree-lined sidewalks are key in design that refreshes the pedestrian.  

These views are not…

The first photo is a creek running under Bowling Av, Nashville, TN.  It is actually a lovely little creek - it has just been completely barricaded from view.  There are gnarly guard rails, cement enclosures and tons of weeds hiding it from view.  There is a actually a bit of sidewalk on the street-side of the guardrail suggesting it could be a destination.  Imagine this place re-envisioned as a small park…

The second & third photos are from a walk I recently did in Berry Hill around One Hundred Oaks. Vanderbilt Medical Center has an outpost here so I spend a significant amount of time in this area.  I don't get out to walk much in the area as my next post will expand upon.

  Despite spending so much time in the area, I never knew there was a lovely little creek snaking its way along Powell Rd in front of the many big box stores.  I can't even see this creek from the 3rd floor window because it is so completely hidden! 

The third photo shows a large barren space where Thompson Rd turns onto Powell that is perfect for either a tree filled grove or a pocket park.  

When I moved to Nashville in 2003 for NYC, I remember wondering, 'were are the parks?'  Greater than 10 years later, I still feel  Nashville is somehow deficient in public parks and yet there are wonderful places all over that are highly underutilized.  Imagine converting spaces like those above into parks…

“I end then in praise of small spaces. The multiplier effect is tremendous. It is not just the number of people using them, but the larger number who pass by and enjoy them vicariously, or even the larger number who feel better about the city center for knowledge of them. For a city, such places are priceless, whatever the cost. They are built of a set of basics and they are right in front of our noses. If we will look.” 

- William Whyte

http://www.pps.org/reference/wwhyte/

Why, then, have we hidden so many treasures away?

Sidewalk Project #1 - Bowling Av, Survey Results Completed by Clif Shayne, 8th Grader at USN

Clif Shayne, an 8th grader at USN in Nashville, did a wonderful job highlighting the issues that plague Bowling Av for pedestrians in a guest blog for Shade Parade Nashville (link below).  

http://shadeparadenashville.blogspot.com/2014/02/sidewalk-project-1-bowling-av-guest.html

Here, he shares the overwhelmingly positive results of his survey.

• 140 responders with 92% in support of completing the sidewalk on Bowling Av to its terminus on Woodmont. 

• 90% stated they would sign a petition in favor of completing the sidewalk on Bowling Av.  

• Almost 80% stated they would get out more on foot if the sidewalk was completed.  

The comments were also incredibly supportive (65 in all, see list below).  They want sidewalks for safety, health, betterment of the neighborhood, for creating a more social neighborhood, for the aesthetic appeal.  

The few who felt sidewalks would be a negative associated it with high cost, loss of privacy, little need.  One particular commenter felt need was low due to lack of businesses or schools within walking distance.  

It should be pointed out that West End Middle School, Edmington Park, the weekend food trucks and the numerous churches/synagogues are within 1/2 mile - 1 mile.  

Comments:  (printed here for easier visualization)

1. I support you!    
2. Construction that doesn't cause major road blocks.
3. Is there really any downside to having more sidewalks? 
4. Good work! 
5. With sidewalks we could walk safely to the pool
6. I want more sidewalks in Nashville! 
7. Make the sidewalk out of carbon fiber or rubber or something rad like that. (Concrete would keep costs down, though. I understand.)     
8. Sidewalks are important attributes to our city for health and safety ! Thank you for highlighting this important issue! 
9. My preference for a sidewalk does depend on the price though.
10. I like to run, and a sidewalk on Bowling would make it a safer place to run. 
11. Great idea, Clif! This would be a welcome change to the neighborhood. Best of luck with your project
12. This is a grand idea! It would make my walks much safer 
13. This is a phenomenal project. Best of luck! 
14. Great work, Clif! I'm proud of you. 
15. If you look at price per square foot, the highest value neighborhoods in Nashville are those with sidewalks.
16. A lot of people run on bowling and the areas that have a sidewalk appeared much safer to me in the areas of Bowling the do not 
17. This is a much needed sidewalk. Anything I can do to help, let me know 
18. The side streets are good walking places but the need to cross or walk on Bowling is a hazardous deterrent.
19. I wanted to support your efforts. I live on Golf Club (east of Hillsboro) and would love to have a sidewalk on our street too! Sidewalks promote health and a sense of community. I wish you all the best! 
20. There are so many walkers in the neighborhood that a sidewalk would make things so much safer and easier for us all. 
21. Thank you for helping build the Nashville of tomorrow. We need more young people helping us build a better tomorrow. 
22. Thank you for taking on this sidewalk idea. What an improvement this sidewalk would be!
23. Sidewalks are great, but they do need a barrier between them and the busy street. A 3 foot strip of grass is nice. 
24. "Floating" sidewalks are used over ditches and swampy land in parks to elevate and protect the ground. 
25. I walk & use sidewalks. Bowling is very important for cars too. I worry that a sidewalk will make it harder for all the traffic on Bowling because there is no space for sidewalk. 
26. There is a lot of foot traffic in this stretch of Bowling. A sidewalk would improve safety for both pedestrians and vehicles. 
27. Let's do this, it's good for our community. Thanks
28. Sidewalks on Bowling would be really important connective piece for that neighborhood. great project! 
29. A sidewalk all the way down Bowling from Woodmont to West End would be most helpful and would make walking on Bowling not so dangerous. 
30. There are many walkers in the neighborhood. For safety purposes, the ability to walk on a sidewalk would be instrumental. 
31. The expense of the construction would not meet the benefit for the neighborhood.If there were a school or retail nearby, the cost might be justified. 
32. Woodmont needs sidewalks as well
33. safe walking is very important and this would facilitate eliminating that problem 
34. With increasing traffic issues, pedestrian walkways needs to be addressed. 
35. There are many roads that neighbors walk that intersect with Bowling Avenue. Having a sidewalk on Bowling would improve safe walking for the neighbors. 
36. Walking on Bowling Ave. is dangerous. 
37. This is a great idea. I have a dog, and we like to take long walks. 
38. We need sidewalks on 23rd from Woodmont to Sharondale also 
39. Walkers along Golf Club, Hampton, and the other intersecting roads to Bowling will be much safer. 
40. We have lots of walkers in this neighborhood and sidewalks would make it safer on Bowling, which is a much busier street than the others.   
41. Great idea!!   
42. Would love a sidewalk on both sides of the street - from West End to Woodmont. Then, it would be great, if this sidewalk continued on Woodmont to achieve connectivity. 
43. a sidewalk on bowling is a dangerous idea because it is such a busy street. for those of us who live on bowling, it would decrease what little privacy we have. i wouldn't want to lose my hedge. put it on Hampton! 
44. there are only 2 landowners Brighton to Woodlawn so perhaps gain their support and that would be another entire block! 
45. I walk my dogs almost everyday on bowling between golf club and Hampton and it is very scary when cars speed by! 
46. Good for creating a more community friendly environment.
47. Bowling is a great connector road and needs to be pedestrian friendly. 
48. The lack of sidewalks makes it such that I do not want my kids out riding their bikes in our neighborhood because Bowling is just not safe -- cars drive too fast! 
49. Sidewalks would enable people to walk into Green Hills and Harding Road more and alleviate some of the insane traffic… 
50. The lack of a sidewalk poses great danger to those in the neighborhood who walk and run on Bowling 
51. A sidewalk would be a great asset to our neighborhood.
52. Sidewalks please!! It is more and more dangerous for pedestrians with more distracted drivers. Get people off the road!! 
53. I walk and run around this neighborhood frequently. Many times I have felt the whiz of a car coming too close and too fast. I fear that someone is going to be hit by a car. I certainly hope that our community will put the sidewalks in before that happens. Thank you for trying to make that happen. 
54. It would also allow our walkers to walk safely.
55. Please use all of my ditch for sidewalks at 3600 Hampton 
56. Awesome project! Do be sure to share the results of your survey 
57. The sidewalk should be "usable" - not blocked by utility poles/wires, overgrown shrubs, etc. 
58. It will bring too many more visitors to the area and cause more crime 
59. What would happen to beautiful front yards on Woodmont? 
60. the homeowners on bowling are the ones you will need to convince because they will be the ones most impacted by the construction of sidewalks on their property. good luck.
61. Sidewalks would be a big improvement to our quality of life in this neighborhood. 
62. would be much safer for my kids and we would be more likely to walk to friends houses. plus i would feel much safer running along bowling than I currently do 
63. Signage alerting motorists to yield to pedestrians.
64. I think a sidewalk on Bowling would enhance the walkability of the neighborhood. Also, for those who are pro-AMP it would make accessibility for a larger number of people who might choose to use the AMP. Sidewalks on major streets like Bowling are more important than on the side streets.
65. This is a wonderful idea!           

Clif, thank you for all your hard work!  Your contribution to this project has moved it forward an enormous step.

As many of you know, Trish Mixon and I are proposing a completion of the sidewalk on Bowling Av to its terminus at Woodmont.  We have discussed this issue with our Councilmen, Jason Holleman and Sean McGuire.  Sean McGuire has graciously agreed to add this project to the Capital Improvement Budget.  Public Works has found no significant issues with easements or right-of-ways.  We have completed a hardscape survey to record any structures that would need to be moved/changed.  Most importantly, we have formally polled our neighbors, via letter, whose property would be directly affected by a sidewalk.  The results have been overwhelmingly supportive. 

http://shadeparadenashville.blogspot.com/2014/03/sidewalk-project-1-bowling-av-update-on.html

A critical part of this pilot project is to build a sidewalk that works.  In regulation with Public Works, the sidewalk would require a minimum of 5 feet and a green buffer zone of 4 feet.  In addition, the speed limit on Bowling may qualify for a reduction to provide another layer of safety.

A second critical part is that this sidewalk will eventually need to enhance connectivity to other parts of the city - most notably Hillsboro Village, Harding and Green Hills.  The second phase of this project is to sidewalk Woodmont.  The third phase is to sidewalk Hillsboro Pk.    

***

In April (exact date TBD), we will be hosting a community meeting at West End Middle School. 

 We will be inviting many different stakeholders, council members, the Mayor, representatives of interested non-profits, schools, churches/synagogues and community organizations.    

We wish to impress on our elected officials that we as a neighborhood: want sidewalks on our main thoroughfare; that we are the kind of neighbors who USE sidewalks; and that we are the kind of neighbors who are working collaboratively to make any sidewalk in our neighborhood be built consistent with the beauty of our little part of Nashville.  

YOUR PRESENCE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

Sidewalk Project #1 - Bowling Av, Update on Letters, Introduction for Public Meeting

On February 10, 2014, 62 letters were sent out to the residents whose properties would be effected by completing the sidewalk on Bowling Av, in Nashville, to its terminus at Woodmont.  Letters were sent to residents on both the east and west sides of the street.

To date, we have received responses from 23 households (37%) which have been overwhelmingly supportive of the project.  

While we are very much in favor of sidewalks, we wanted feedback to gauge the level of interest by our neighbors and also to identify any potention problems.

Here is a copy of the questionnaire:

How do you feel about completing the sidewalk on Bowling?  (circle one below)

1. Very Supportive - I would like to see sidewalks on Bowling and would contribute private money, if needed, to secure public money to make the project a reality

2. Supportive - Would be happy to allow the city to create a sidewalk on the existing public easement on my property

3. Neutral - Do not feel strongly if there is a sidewalk or not
4. Against - Would not support the creation of a sidewalk on Bowling

Please feel free to write any additional comments you may have.  

Results:

• Very Supportive: 7 (30% of respondents)
• Supportive: 12 (52%)
• Neutral: 2 (9%)
• Against: 2 (9%)

Comments:

1. I would encourage our tax payer dollars to be spent on this awesome idea! Please feel free to use all of my ditch for this purpose (as I live on Bowling and a large portion of my lot is on Bowling). I do not support AMP as I have never ever witnessed more than 6 people on any bus along West End! I do however support bike lanes - real bike lanes and sidewalks. Thank you
2. I am so glad you are doing this! I have known that we need sidewalks on Bowling for a long time. If you need any help please contact me. 
3. But would rather spend money on this as opposed to the AMP
4. I attended a meeting at Hillsboro High several years ago where individuals took surveys and input about sidewalks. I talked to one of the 'surveyors' about private/public partnerships or private, and he discouraged the thought as 'discrimanatory'. Thanks - we need a sidewalk on Bowling. To reach the bus stop, you are required to walk on Wimbledon or West End. My son has no motor visual perception, so walking on Bowling isn't an option.
5. We are the only neighborhood in town where sidewalks come up to it and stop - from all directions. We are a sidewalk desert!
6. Very opposed to AMP
7. I would not like to see any tax increase or other expense.
8. I would love to see sidewalks on Bowling
9. Would even consider contribution for sidewalks
10. I would not like to see any tax increase or other expense. 
11. Thank you for your informative letter. I currently fall between #2 & 3 in my support for a sidewalk, as you can see. We have recently spent quite a sum rebuilding the stone wall that runs in front of our property but actually sits on the easement. Many thanks
12. I would not like my rock wall destroyed where there is a rental property with no wall across the street. Unfortunately, Frist's live on the other side of the street a bit down and doubt they want sidewalk in front of the house.
13. Bowling Av is heavily traveled by speeding cars. I do not think it can be made safe due to the narrowness and the drainage issues. It is not uncommon to clock cars driving 60 mph on Bowling. I think no one truly needs to run or walk great distances on Bowling Av. Additionally, several areas of Bowling are flanked by very deep ditches. It would seem the cost of putting a sidewalk from Brighton to Woodmont would be prohibitive. If it were vital to the neighborhood, I believe it would have been accomplished.
14. I am so glad you are doing this! I have known that we need sidewalks on Bowling for a long time. If you need any help please contact me. 
15. Terrible dangerous idea on such a busy street! We do not want to sacrafice our hedge for this project which would obliterate our privacy.
16. I would love to see sidewalks on Bowling.
17. Count me in on your mission to provide sidewalks. Should have had them here decades ago.
18. Yes to sidewalks!
19. The students, parents, faculty, staff, and administration of West End Middle School would strongly support the construction of sidewalks along Bowling Avenue

As many of you know, Trish Mixon and I are proposing a completion of the sidewalk on Bowling Ave to its terminus at Woodmont.  Clif Shayne, an 8th grader at USN and a neighbor, has done a survery on this topic whose results will be published here 3/6/2014.  We have discussed this issue with our Councilmen, Jason Holleman and Sean McGuire.  Sean McGuire has graciously agreed to add this project to the Capital Improvement Budget.  Public Works has found no significant issues with easements or right-of-ways.  We have completed a hardscape survey to record any structures that would need to be moved/changed.  Most importantly, we have formally polled our neighbors, via letter, whose property would be directly affected by a sidewalk.  The results have been overwhelmingly supportive as you can see above. 

***

In April (exact date TBD), we will be hosting a community meeting at West End Middle School to allow for further discussion. 

 We will be inviting many different stakeholders, council members, the Mayor, representatives of interested non-profits, schools, churches/synagogues and community organizations.    

We wish to impress on our elected officials that we as a neighborhood: want sidewalks on our main thoroughfare; that we are the kind of neighbors who USE sidewalks; and that we are the kind of neighbors who are working collaboratively to make any sidewalk in our neighborhood be built consistent with the beauty of our little part of Nashville.  

YOUR PRESENCE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

***

Road Diet

Vehicular traffic is a highly complained about subject here in Nashville.  Thinking this through, I am reminded of the old adage - If you build it, they will come.  Building more roads = more traffic strangely. As cities move forward & modernize to the wishes of residents now and in the future they need to consider what nobody desires - more traffic.   

Consider the opposite approach.  A road diet. A road diet is essentially a dimunization of the road either by reduction in lanes or reduction in the width of the lanes in order to achieve systemic improvement.

One of the most common applications of a road diet is to improve safety or provide space for other modes of travel.

Per Wikipedia, 'If properly designed, traffic does not divert to other streets after a road diet, because the road previously provided excessive capacity. In other scenarios, reduction of traffic (either local traffic or overall traffic) are intended in the scheme. Road diets are usually successful on roads carrying fewer than 19,000 vehicles per day. Road diets can succeed at volumes up to about 23,000 vehicles per day'.

As you know, Shade Parade Nashville, is working on a pilot project to complete the sidewalk on Bowling Av.  Currently, Bowling exhibits as a classic Nashville situation - sidewalked for 2/3 of its duration with an abrupt terminus that no longer makes sense.  In addition, for the portion of sidewalk extending south of West End, Bowling only has sidewalks on one side of the road - the side opposite the middle school!

Nashville has devoted enough land to cars - now it is time for pedestrians to have a viable place to walk!

Imagine a road diet for Bowling Av at the intersection of West End with a lush green median and sidewalks on either side…

Moving forward, we are organizing a neighborhood meeting about Bowling likely to be held at West End Middle School in the spring.  We want to hear your thoughts and wishes.  It is going to be critical for a large turn out to be present so please plan to attend.  

Date TBD.  

Sidewalk Project #1, Bowling Av: Guest Author Clif Shayne - Sidewalk Perspective from an 8th Grader

On one of the first beautiful days in February, I decided to walk down Bowling Avenue. My name is Clif Shayne. I am an 8^th grader at University School of Nashville.

I started off walking down Golf Club Lane, where there are no sidewalks. There were not many cars, so it was not a big deal. But when I turned the corner onto Bowling Avenue, I discovered that it was not really a walk, it was more of an obstacle course. This image shows what walking down Bowling is like. I soon discovered that I was going to be in a ditch for most of my walk.

This picture shows not only that I had to walk in a ditch; I had to climb over obstacles. This is inconvenient for everybody. Walking down this street with a baby stroller is impossible. Good luck with that.

Walking down Bowling is dangerous for many various reasons. I was always close to cars that are going by at 35 mph or more. I did not feel safe and I had a feeling of anxiety throughout the walk. 

Imagine running or pushing a baby stroller over this. It is an accident or a rolled ankle waiting to happen. Walking down Bowling caused me to pay more attention than I should have during a walk because of things like this.

I didn’t have a radar gun, but it seemed like most cars were going over 35 mph. This is too fast for a neighborhood. This walk was one of the least relaxing strolls I’ve taken in a while.

This intersection was very chaotic. There were no pedestrian stripes, and no crossing signals. It was clearly not built for humans to walk on. I had to quickly run across so I got out of the way of the cars.

Overall, it was a bad experience. There is a sidewalk that starts at Brighton Avenue that goes to West End, but it only covers a pretty small portion of Bowling. It is basically a sidewalk to nowhere. By adding 7/10 of sidewalk all the way to Woodmont Boulevard, an entire neighborhood would be able to walk safely to Elmington Park. It would be so great for everyone to walk safely, get some easy exercise, and enjoy the neighborhood without a car. 

I am working on a school project to try to get a sidewalk on Bowling Avenue from Woodmont Boulevard to Brighton Road. I am trying to collect information about the neighberhood’s feelings about a potential sidewalk. Below is a link to a short survey about the topic. It would be greatly appreciated if you would take a minute or two to fill out the survey. The results will be posted on this blog. Thank you so much for your time!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9KKLXBM

Cow Paths

Cow paths, a very ungenerous term, are created when many people walk along the same unpaved path creating a trail.  The more you walk in Nashville the more cow paths you will discover.  Cow paths are the natural reaction to superblocks. As a walker, typically, you are looking for the shortest way to get from point A to point B.  The example above is from the Green Hills public library's back lot to the strip mall that fronts Hillsboro with Starbucks and Kalamatas.

The Green Hills transportation plan has designs on breaking up some of these superblocks, common in Nashville beyond the 440 loop, to the great benefit to pedestrians.  

Compared to a cow path, doesn't this look much more inviting?  Frequently, I hear people say that sidewalks are not needed because they never see anyone out walking.  Therefore, the need is low.  The interest is low.  

I would argue that if the infrastructure is not designed for pedestrians - walking is actually discouraged.  And, in many places in Nashville walking frankly is dangerous.

Change is in order.  

On the surface, sidewalks may seem like a fairly unsexy and mundane topic but they have enormous power to dictate how you move.  Without them, you are far less likely to walk anywhere much to the chagrin of your cardiovascular system and psyche.  If more sidewalks in Nashville hold even a shred of interest for you - will you please like Shade Parade Nashville on Facebook?  

Engagement on FB is really important for continued exposure to feeds and for us to gauge interest.  I'll remind you that Nashville, when compared with other major cities, was ranked the 2nd worst walking city in America.  We need help - specifically your help!  Share and like Shade Parade Nashville stories.  Better yet, will you follow us on FB and Blogger?  

Currently, we have a single follower on our blog.  If you follow us - you can increase our number 100%!