A street party is taking place to celebrate a community-driven project that led to $2.7 million in pedestrian safety improvements on Detroit Avenue, one of Concord’s most heavily trafficked streets located in the heart of the Monument community.
The celebration culminates a process that began in 2012, when the Central County Regional Group, a parent advocacy group we train and sponsor, conducted an assessment of walking and biking safety on Detroit Avenue with help from local agencies and elected officials. Detroit Avenue lacked safe sidewalks, bike lanes and crossings, which resulted in a number of collisions in recent years.
The assessment ended up generating millions in grant funding for the City of Concord to make recommended improvements, including:
- Four-way stop signs (Lynn Ave, Walters Way)
- High-visibility crosswalks (Sunshine Ave, Laguna St, Lynn Ave, Walters Way)
- Sidewalk accessibility improvements
- New extended sidewalks along the busy stretch from Clayton Road to Monument Boulevard
- New street paving and surfacing
- New bike lanes including green paving to increase bicyclist visibility and safety
- 13 new streetlights
The street party celebration, taking place on September 24th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., will feature free family activities, including a bike rodeo, Zumba, cooking demonstrations, and interactive children’s games. Mayor Laura Hoffmeister, Councilmember Edi Birsan, local organizations and residents who participated in the project will speak and participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony. It will take place at Meadow Homes Park (1371 Detroit Ave.).
The project was a result of collaboration among Monument resident leaders, Contra Costa Health Services, the Central County Regional Group, First 5 Contra Costa, Monument Impact, Bike East Bay, Bike Concord, Healthy and Active Before 5, County Connection and the City of Concord.
“Multicultural parents of young children, public health staff, bike activists, and local advocates – we have different perspectives but came together for the safety of our community – and the City of Concord listened,” said Rhea Elina Laughlin, First 5 Contra Costa’s Community Engagement Program Officer. “Now, Detroit Avenue is much safer for children and families.”
The project received funding from local Measure J and Measure Q funds and a $1.8 million One Bay Area Grant. The City of Concord is replicating this community-driven model to inform its new Bicycle, Pedestrian and Safe Routes to Transit Plan.