TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—A parent who was pushing her 2-year-old in a stroller on Wayne Place and was nearly hit by a distracted driver over a year ago alleged to Township Council that the adults in charge are “knowingly allowing the children of our community to be put in danger every day” during dropoff and pickup times at the school.
Resident Rachel Oldenburger said that in November 2021, she had just dropped off her child for kindergarten at Washington Elementary School and was walking in a walking lane set off by cones when a car swerved into the lane and nearly hit the stroller.
The areas around Washington Elementary School — including Wayne Place and White Birch Road — lack sidewalks, and children and parents must traverse congested, busy streets lined with parked cars.
(See “Sidewalks on Hold; Committee To Consider Options,” Michael Olohan, April 24, 2023, Pascack Press.)
Oldenburger told the council April 24 that she would be in favor of sidewalks for children’s safety but later noted she had “an open mind” on whether sidewalks were the best option.
After Oldenburger asked to be included on the advisory committee being formed to recommend solutions to the situation, Council President Desserie Morgan invited her to join.
Councilman Steven Cascio has the issue of sidewalks has come up “cyclically” over the years and would be discussed but no sidewalks ever resulted on the busy side streets.
Oldenburger said she had surveyed 54 people on the issue and that 83% said sidewalks are needed while 17% voted against sidewalks.
She said that more than half of those said that Wayne Place is unsafe during pickup/dropoff but favor another solution.
She read the council comments made by parents who took the survey and noted that they all said nearby streets were unsafe for children. She said not fixing the problem was “risking the lives” of 300 kids and siblings at least 180 days a year.
Her husband, Jake, raised similar child safety concerns and suggested that the state’s Complete Streets program might offer some funds for safety improvements.
Morgan said that with all the after-school and weekend events occurring at nearby Memorial Field and the school during non-school hours, the area is regularly used almost 365 days a year by kids and adults going back and forth to the school, fields and recreational courts.
Morgan said that she had reached out to the Westwood regional school board on the issue and said the interim superintendent agreed something needed to be done.
She said she recently spoke with residents on Wayne Place and White Birch Road about the safety concerns.
She said the committee would be composed of “stakeholders” including the regional board’s interim superintendent, a school board representative, a councilman, the mayor, township administrator, township engineer, police chief, and others. She said the committee would be asked to “hash it out now and figure out the best moves for the town.”
Prior suggestions to help ease congestion and safety concerns included making a vehicle turning loop near the school so parents could drop off children quickly and then continue on.
Morgan said that the committee needed to go over “all the options” and determine what may be the best option to improve safety. She said “maybe at the end” of all committee discussions, they determine that sidewalks are the best option.
Mayor Peter Calamari said that “inaction is not an option” and noted that the problem has gone on too long.
Councilwoman Stacey Feeney asked if purchasing 450 Pascack Road had been considered in parent discussions of the safety problems. She was told that parents were discussing how the 3.2-acre property at 450 Pascack Road might be used for parking or a turnaround option.
Councilwoman Daisy Velez noted she had inquired about schools in eight towns and found that they all had sidewalks or loops for car turnarounds near the school for drop offs and pickups.
Lately, 450 Pascack Road has been mentioned as a possible parking site for both Washington School and Memorial Field, as a possible cut-through or turnaround for school drop offs and pickups, and future public uses. A $430,000 bid, under threat of condemnation, was made on the site in 2021 but few details are known about ongoing negotiations.
Morgan said she hoped the committee would meet soon, and noted she would not mind spending money, “if it’s the right solution…safety trumps everything.”