Page 5 - WILMAPCO - Fall 2022
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Ardenites, Crofters, and Townies Become Planners in
Walkable Community Workshop
Residents of the three Ardens came together at the Candlelight Theatre in early August to take a walk in the Ardens and uncover ways to make the community more walkable.
This group was participating in a Walkable Community Workshop (WCW), an interactive event that brings together residents, elected attention on how to make walking around the community safer, more accessible, and more comfortable. WCWs begin with a presentation, reviewing topics such as sidewalk other tools communities need to create a walkable environment. This helps spark ideas during the walking audit, which gives participants a chance to survey the area and identify challenges and opportunities to improve walking. After the walk, the group shares
ideas for improving walkability in a mapping exercise. Through these workshops, community members become the planners, as they are experts in their own community and can come up with the best possible ideas for improvement.
The Ardens walking audit began at the Candlelight Theatre and continued on Millers Road and the Mall, heading south on a path that connects to the intersection of Veale Road and Harvey Road, on the border between Ardentown and Ardencroft. This intersection was the focus of this major pedestrian safety concern and an opportunity to better connect the Ardens across Harvey Road. The 37 participants (one of WILMAPCO’s most well-attended WCWs) crossed the intersection several times to observe safety issues and develop
ideas for potential improvements.
After returning to the Candlelight Theatre, participants split into several groups to discuss recommendations to improve walkability in the Ardens. The majority of recommendations included creative solutions to calm its intersections safer to cross. The group also shared ideas to improve Veale Road and Millers Road, walking paths in all three Ardens, and bus stops on Harvey Road, as well as a recommended bicycle route through the Ardens.
These ideas will be covered in more detail in the Ardens WCW report, which will soon be available on our website. For more information on WCWs, past WCW reports, and how your community could participate in this program, visit www.wilmapco.org/walkable.
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