THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2008

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Grant To Make Route To Central School Safer

By DWIGHT ESAU

Journal Reporter

It will soon become easier for Central School students in Des Plaines to cross Thacker Street going to and from school.

The school recently received an $80,500 grant from the "Safe Routes to School" program. The program is federally funded and administered by the State of Illinois, and is designed to provide children with safe and efficient ways to bike or walk to and from school.

The Central project is one of 112 projects that have been funded in the state. Franklin School in Park Ridge recently received a $400,000 grant for a similar project in the Manor Lane area of that community. To be done by the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Central work will include construction of two curb extensions on Thacker Street, one at Cora Street and the other on the east end of the school property at a crosswalk connecting the school playground with a park across the street.

"We are extremely pleased to receive this grant," said principal Jan Rashid. "We have been seeking ways to make crossing of Thacker safer for our 260 children for a long time. These extensions will decrease the distance our children will have to walk or bike in the street, and will create controlled pedestrian zones."

Also involved in the project to obtain the grant, she said, were Angela Burton of the City of Des Plaines Police Department, and Charles Temple, health and safety chairman of the Central School PTO.

"This is a joint effort of the city, School District 62, our PTO, the state, and the federal government," Rashid said.