FELLSMERE — The Fellsmere City Council Thursday evening discussed the future of sidewalks and trails throughout the city and heard a plan for pursuing a $250,000 grant to bring dual sidewalks to Massachusetts Avenue.
“I think that’s a pretty big priority,” Mayor Susan Adams said of getting sidewalks along Massachusetts. She raised concerns for school children who walk to school along that street.
Community Development Director Mark Mathes told the Fellsmere City Council Thursday that the city’s Planning and Zoning board also ranked Massachusetts highest priority for the grant funds.
The board also recommended finding smaller grants for sidewalks along New York and on County Road 512 east of Willow.
If the City were to receive the $250,000 grant, which has not yet been applied for, it would cover the cost of installing 10,000 linear feet – or 1.89 miles – of sidewalk. The City would have to cover the cost of engineering.
The City has already allocated $20,000 in this year’s budget for smaller sidewalk projects, specifically replacing the sidewalk on the south side of New York between Cypress and Broadway.
Looking ahead, the City is considering other areas for trails and sidewalks, including the Rails to Trails project that would ultimately link Fellsmere to the North County Aquatics Center and require a pedestrian crossing at Interstate 95. Other possible trails include the Fellsmere Water Control District’s right of way that runs north-south along the eastern edge of MESA Park as well as a trail connecting S. Myrtle to S. Willow halfway between CR 512 and Massachusetts.
Given the Fellsmere City Council’s general consensus that Massachusetts should be the highest sidewalk priority, Mathes is expected to go forward with an application for the grant.