Andrew Spidahl, Neighborhood Connector
I am thinking of an open neighborhood meeting in September about the safety of crossing Van Raalte Avenue to get to Kollen Park. The image I have is of a young boy relentlessly raising his hand to question the engineer who is giving the presentation. He wants to be sure he understands exactly how each idea will help slow down the traffic so pedestrians can cross safely. The engineer is gracious to answer each question and concern, and also clearly impressed at this boy’s level of commitment and his confidence to speak up in a public meeting. At first I am a bit embarrassed—is this kid asking relevant questions or does he just want to feel important? But the more I observe, the more I realize he truly cares. Later, I am talking to last year’s Community Connector, Catie. She tells me that this same boy cared enough to go door-to-door with a petition to get this on the City’s agenda, and cared enough to take that same petition and be the one to deliver it to City Hall when the time was right. He cares because he and his little brother live in the neighborhood and cross that dangerous street. The result? Keep an eye out for changes to the traffic pattern near Van Raalte and Kollen Park!