Board Rejects Long Range Committee Recommendation for PermanentAmes Walkway Signs

The SLI Trustee Board at their October 2018 meeting, approved the Ames Ave. Walkway identification signs being centered between the two sets of white pillars from July 1st through Labor Day Monday. The Long Range Committee had recommended permanently installed signs. As a compromise, the Board recommended that placement of the signs be accomplished through the use of a ground pipe into which the sign post could be set in and easily removed.  Dr. Cook agreed to contact Sign Language about the change and the work would then be moved from this Fall up to Spring 2019.

The SLI Board, having previously approved the Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC)'s design for the signs identifying Ames Walkway for both ends of the Walkway, asked the LRPC at their September 2018 meeting, to return a recommendation for placement of the signs at their October 2018 meeting. Dr. Bob Cook, chairperson of the LRPC, gave the committee report to the October Board and reported that the committee had recommended permanent signs centering the Ames Walkway signs halfway between the two pairs of white pillars (one at Perry Ave. and one at Genesee Ave.) which conformed to the original plan for the Walkway.

The recommendation was based on conversations had with the Ames Ave. neighborhood property owners, and information received from those in charge of emergency vehicles. Neighbors were "ok" with the entrances being detoured for vehicular traffic because they still had access to winter parking on Ames. Drivers of emergency vehicles said they do not usually use unpaved roads or paths when there is a paved road just a few yards away. If an ambulance opted to get closer to a cottage than the paved road, each and every cottage on Ames Ave. Walkway is completely accessible through the use of Haven and Hamline Avenues.

From the very first proposal, the plan to eliminate vehicular access to Ames from Genesee and from Perry Avenues, was to keep the walkway entrances free from vehicular, bumpy, muddy, and at times, water-filled ruts in favor of a smooth lawn, welcoming walkers. The recommended placement of signs was in keeping with the principle of vehicle ruts restricted to the inner areas of Ames as opposed to being exposed at the entrances of the walkway.

During the week, since last Saturday, the Committee received the disappointing news about the Ames Walkway not being labeled as such for 10 months out of the year, thereby making it logically appear to be a vehicular road- or drive-way. Neither the Committee nor the neighborhood desired Ames to be a thoroughfare during the off-season months, but preferred people use the paved roads. The appearance of often muddy and wet tire ruts in the ground, particularly at the Perry Ave. entrance is not what they had in mind for being attractive or inviting.

Speaking in favor of the compromise, committee member Greg Franklin said, "The compromise of the temporary sign base, as opposed to one permanently installed, keeps everyone's options open," said Mr. Franklin who owns 66 feet along Ames Ave. Walkway. "A temporary sign can be left up, whereas there are no options to the sign with a permanent base," concluded Mr. Franklin.