Making Star City pedestrian friendly
BUG GUTS & BEAUTY
By Orpheus Allison
Main Street Presque Isle continues to change. With the repaving project almost finished it is interesting to note a few issues. Not all are good.
Thanks to a better understanding of need, people are beginning to walk about more frequently. To this end sidewalks are being constructed that will take pedestrians all the way to the mall. In an area that has not had sidewalks since the time of Fox Trailer Sales this is good news and long, long overdue. Adopting a more pedestrian and people friendly face is a work in progress.
If the Crown of Maine sky picture of North Maine Street in Presque Isle is checked out it is easy to see the entrance to the Walmart Center. It looks super cool and for people who are anywhere in the world it a nice shot of an active part of the city. It, of course, is not used on the evening news though the sky horizon shows a large amount of sky. What is missing? Have you ever tried to walk to Walmart?
Until one reaches the actual Walmart store there is no sidewalk. Yet, there are hundreds of people who walk to and from that store. Presque Isle has a lot of walkers. Some shop here and more work here. Not all use cars or take the bus to get around. The health message and economics mean that on good days one should use those implements at the end of the leg: Walk! Even with the location of the ACAP offices, a health food store, Verizon, Tim Hortons, and Arby’s all sharing part of the same lot there are no sidewalks from Main Street to Walmart. Why?
Increasing foot traffic has a health benefit for people. It aids in slowing traffic down. It also means crosswalks and crossing signs are added. None are there now. Where can feet take the viewer tomorrow?
Orpheus Allison is a photojournalist living in the County. He began his journalism career at WAGM television later working in many different areas of the US. After twenty years of television he changed careers and taught in China and Korea. Graduating from UMPI he earned a Master of Liberal Arts degree from the University of North Carolina.
