Dirt paths with four access points from West 28th Street have historically been used by students to walk or ride to the lower parking lot of the school. The paths were considered by some families to be convenient, safer alternatives to avoid curvy, narrow Junction Street – the only entrance to the school in the densely populated neighborhood.
“We knew that families were used to using these dirt paths, and their closure might be upsetting and inconvenient for some people,” said Chris Coleman, Chief Operations Officer for the district.
Three reasons for closing the dirt paths were announced in the district’s Community Update newsletter in June, including: safety and security to monitor access to the campus; traffic hazards to pedestrians in the new pick-up/drop-off location; and respect for neighbors’ privacy where dirt paths were adjacent to homes.
“After the initial announcement about closures in June, district leaders reviewed thoughtful emails from families and decided on a compromise,” said Coleman. “We believe we have a good solution.” The plan includes the following:
- New perimeter fencing will enclose the entire school campus, with the exception of the main entrance points.
- The east-access dirt trail on West 28th Street will remain open to Miller families after construction work is completed. The trail will allow an open pass through outside of the campus fenceline. There will be two gates allowing students to enter from the north or up from West 28th Street.
- The existing rough dirt trail will be improved and maintained by the school district.
- Safety and security concerns have been addressed in this new plan because it maintains the fenceline and gated entry points to the school.
- There will still be an impact on the neighbors on and near West 28th Street. All Miller Middle School families will receive messaging about safety and being considerate of neighbors when using the trail and drop-off point.
“Our families’ concerns are always important to us. We’re grateful for their engagement,” said Coleman. “And we’re thankful our teams were flexible and willing to go back to the drawing board to establish a safe and efficient bike/walk route to school.”