Elgin campaign pushing for a few Sidewalk Heroes
Initiative by city, schools aims to have residents clear snow for safe foot travel
The city of Elgin and School District U-46 are looking for “sidewalk heroes” this winter to clear the sidewalks of snow and ice.
Last week, the two government agencies introduced the new Sidewalk Heroes campaign to remind residents and others to clear their sidewalks of snow and ice. The joint initiative’s objective is to make sidewalks cleaner and safer for children walking to school, as well as for seniors, mail carriers, delivery drivers and others.
“We appreciate all our community members who keep their sidewalks clear, and we’re hoping to inspire them to look for neighbors and areas that could use some extra help,” U-46 CEO Tony Sanders said in a news release announcing the launch of Sidewalk Heroes.
The community campaign will encourage people who shovel snow or use snowblowers to look around their neighborhoods for sidewalks that need clearing. According to a news release, these “good deeds” can be shared on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter using the #SidewalkHeroes hashtag.
The social media posts posted under the hashtag will be compiled after each snow event and officials will recognize outstanding posts. A winner will be selected shortly after, with prizes ranging from stickers to long-sleeve T-shirts. Elgin Police officers and snow plow drivers will also carry “Sidewalk Heroes” stickers with them that they will hand out whenever they spot a good Samaritan clearing a sidewalk.
“We need to educate, we need to encourage, we need to have fun and we need to reward people,” City of Elgin spokeswoman Molly Gillespie told the City Council at the Dec. 18 committee of the whole meeting.
Elgin has no ordinance requiring residents to shovel their snow. Gillespie said state statute language suggests municipalities encourage — but not force — residents to shovel snow and ice from their sidewalks and driveways. Gillespie said snow shoveling is not mandated because for some residents, shoveling may not be physically possible.
Washington Elementary
School principal Lori Brandes sees near her school and other neighborhood schools the perils students face when walking to school in winter weather. Brandes, Councilman John Steffen, and others have spent months working on Sidewalk Heroes, looking for ways to raise awareness on the matter.
“In a lot of cases, our students end up staying home because the kids can’t get to school safely and they’re having to walk in the streets to get to school,” Brandes told council members.
School District U-46 family and community engagement coordinator Karla Jimenez said the district sent about 15,000 flyers to elementary school families just before classes ended for winter break about Sidewalk Heroes. While the campaign is a district and city initiative, the hope is this effort expands into the other U-46 towns and villages.
“We need to educate, we need to encourage, we need to have fun and we need to reward people.” — Molly Gillespie, City of Elgin spokeswoman