Watch your step. Pay attention.
When out and about enjoying fresh air in the great outdoors, safely navigating city sidewalks from one neighborhood to the next matters. Always be mindful of sidewalk care and maintenance to avoid trip hazards.
During the past two years, unsuspected trip hazards at the corners of sidewalk squares resulted in my falling flat on my face. Ouch! Plus, the first time especially was mighty embarrassing when folks approaching rushed toward me saying, “Are you OK? Do we need to call 911?”
Abashed and back on my feet, my immediate inclination was the shake it off. “I’m just fine, thanks,” noting I’d been distracted by the kids playing hoops on their driveway. I’m a fast walker and I blamed myself for failing to see the raised sidewalk corner that had caught my toe.
My black eye and egg-shaped bump on my forehead greeted me upon arrival home. For more than a week, both became horrid reminders every time I passed by a mirror, reminding me I’m lucky to have strong bones.
About 18 months later, at a location in the subdivision east of ours, my right foot again caught the raised corner of the sidewalk one afternoon as my daughter and I headed toward the progress of a friend’s Halloween display.
Fortunately, both falls were without serious injuries. Yet both falls reminded me that as I age, every time I go for my annual physical, I’m asked, “Have you had any falls?” This year, for the first time, my answer was “yes.”
While relating my experiences to the medical technician, I added that I’d been in touch with the City of Naperville to help raise awareness about unlevel sidewalks and the need to make the pathways safe for all of us who use them for regular exercise, walking dogs or visiting neighbors.
Help identify trip hazards for TED
For about 25 years, I’ve known Bill Novack who now heads Transportation, Engineering and Development Business Group (TED) for the City. After a recent Riverwalk Commission meeting where the winding brick path from Jefferson Avenue to Hillside Road always is the topic, I expressed concerns about trip hazards and the condition of all City sidewalks.
During our conversation, I mentioned a time about 10 years ago when my husband had hired a mud jacker to repair sunken sidewalks leading from our driveway to our front porch. Mud jacking involved drilling holes in the four sidewalk squares and pumping concrete underneath the sunken surfaces to lift them back up to intended elevation. I wondered about the expense and success of mud jacking for city sidewalks vs. the time it takes to remove, set frames and pour concrete to replace public walks.
We discussed the environmental benefits of not having to discard old concrete.
Novack also noted success with “shaving” concrete to level squares, another way to prevent trip hazards.
Novack said that earlier this fall, he, too, had been concerned about sidewalk safety. He explained that sometimes trip hazards are so prominent that they need immediate attention. In those instances, asphalt ramps are placed to prevent falls and the locations are duly noted with paint to be fixed during the next round of sidewalk repairs.
Novack suggested that I take photos with street addresses and email them to the City.
Soon after our conversation, Novack emailed “Core September 2024 City News,” an internal memo he’d written to City employees.
Safety Column: Sidewalk Maintenance
by Bill Novack
Safety starts with you! Learn what to look for, and how to report, common sidewalk safety hazards.
Sidewalks provide safer pathways for people of all ages and abilities. Regular sidewalk and curb maintenance ensures the City’s sidewalk system is safe, accessible and welcoming.
Each year, the Transportation, Engineering and Development Business Group (TED) collaborates with contractors to permanently repair sidewalk defects. TED inspects all sidewalks along streets being resurfaced or micro-surfaced each year, but TED relies on sidewalk users to inform the City of any sidewalk defects they notice so they can be repaired.
As you are working around Naperville, if you see a sidewalk that you think may be defective, please report it to TED at (630) 420-6100, Extension 4.
What to look for:
- Walks that have a height difference of one inch or more between sections.
- Squares that are broken into three or more pieces.
- If 50% or more of the surface is deteriorated.
If you’re unsure whether the sidewalk meets the criteria, it’s better to report it than to assume the sidewalk is safe. A TED Inspector will visit the site, perform an inspection and determine if the sidewalk meets the criteria for replacement.
If the sidewalk meets the criteria, it will be replaced during the following calendar year’s replacement contract. If the TED Inspector determines that an immediate hazard exists at the location, the Department of Public Works (DPW) will send a crew to place temporary asphalt and remove any trip hazard until a permanent repair can be made. If you see a sidewalk marked with pink or white paint, that means it’s already been inspected and is scheduled for repair.
Thank you for helping us keep the City’s sidewalks safe!
For now, consider this edited info lifted from the City’s website
The City of Naperville dictates that public sidewalk maintenance is the responsibility of the adjacent property owner. The City repairs and replaces sidewalks identified as a safety hazard on a cost-sharing basis.
- For sidewalks adjacent to residential properties, the city pays 60% and the resident pays 40%.
- For sidewalks adjacent to multi-family and commercial properties, the cost is split 50-50 between the City and property owner.
- For multi-frontage residential lots, the City pays 60% for the shorter frontage and 75% of the longer frontage; the homeowner pays the balance.
Sidewalk squares in need of maintenance are designated with a painted white “X” mark. Pink paint is used to denote sidewalks scheduled to be replaced in the current year’s sidewalk and curb maintenance program. White painted areas may be replaced in coordination with the current year’s resurfacing programs.
Additionally, the City allows homeowners to replace sidewalks at their property through private contract.
Again, for complete details, take a minute to read everything about “sidewalk repair” at www.naperville.il.us.
Did you know Naperville has more than 800 miles of sidewalks?
My conversation with Novack concluded with concerns regarding the City’s cost-sharing program and annual budget. Further, we discussed the City’s “complaint-based” policy as the way the City responds to where and when repairs are needed.
I noted no one wants to be a snitch on neighbors that would have them incur costs. Just walking throughout local neighborhoods, I’ve seen many sidewalk squares that need attention.
Novack estimated somewhere between 800 and 1,000 miles of sidewalks in Naperville.
Not wanting to open a Pandora’s Box, so to speak, I wondered how the City would handle the costs and timing if TED were deluged with complaint calls reporting needs to repair. The 60-40 cost split for many residential repairs might prevent folks from making a call. Could the City step up to fund more?
Earlier this year, City Council addressed the split costs of sidewalk repairs. In the end, Council decided not to change its Municipal Code because homeowners seemed OK about the shared expense. That was before my second fall. And before I’d started asking friends and neighbors—and before hearing an earful about trip falls.
Novack encouraged this story, noting our help would be appreciated, He also noted the budget for 2025 is now in place.
Become involved to create a better way for all concerned
Perhaps if all homeowners took time to walk and evaluate their sidewalk that runs along the City’s parkway, we could help TED plan for budgeting repairs. Perhaps City Council members could reevaluate the City’s cost-sharing program with a plan to budget for the care and maintenance of public sidewalks.
Public safety, all kinds, remains top of mind for me, from the Riverwalk to every neighborhood throughout the City. Many of us enjoy dressing appropriately to adapt to the changing seasons in the Midwest, enjoying fresh air for daily exercise and walking our dogs.
As folks in this community of can-do spirit come up with creative ideas for attractive new amenities, let’s be mindful of the ever-increasing costs and responsibility to take care of what we have, especially all those miles and miles of sidewalks. Let’s work with the City to come up with local tax dollars to make those needed repairs to keep everybody safe.
Naperville’s founding in 1831 will be commemorated in 2031. Since 1981, our city has been known for its attractive Sesquicentennial Riverwalk, now with a plan to extend the linear park from Hillside Road to Martin Avenue, funded in part by designated grants and the Riverwalk 2031 Fund.
Naperville received a “Walkable Community Award” in 1999.
Here’s hoping we’ll all participate by identifying sidewalk squares that need care and maintenance on our property.
–Stephanie Penick, PN Publisher
Here’s an additional note about the responsibility of every property owner to remove snow on sidewalks in a timely manner / According to the City’s website and many longtime residents, it’s up to every property owner to keep sidewalks clear and safe for public use. All sidewalks that run along the parkway on private property are expected to be clear of snow and ice within 48 hours following an inclement weather event.
According to Code Enforcement, it is “unlawful to remove snow or ice from private property and deposit it upon any public street or alley or any part thereof.” In other words, never shovel snow into the street.
Also, whenever it snows and/or temperatures drop, keep fire hydrants and drains on private property clear of ice and snow.
