NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES: Sidewalks build connections in Katonah

By PAUL WIEMAN 

I have been thinking about sidewalks. This past summer, the town decided that the asphalt strip along a section of Huntville Road, a portion which was in front of our house, needed an upgrade. Gone went the narrow sidewalk that was subject to various unanticipated bumps, and in its stead emerged a completely flat, 5-foot-wide concrete walkway suitable for a full range of activities. Originally, I did not think that such an upgrade was worth the money, but I think differently now and have grown to appreciate the value of the sidewalk and all its upgrades.

Let us go back a few years — 35 to be exact. My wife and I moved to Katonah in 1990, departing a rental that was on a busy street with no sidewalks and not even a shoulder on the road to allow safe cycling or walking. Our yard was lovely, but we could not get anywhere without driving. In our three years living there, we developed no new friendships and never met our neighbors. No sidewalks meant no connections.  

Then, we moved here, and within days we realized the value of a sidewalk to the neighborhood. Dogs on leashes passed by several times a day. People walked by on their way to doing errands in town. Couples with strollers allowed us to smile at their young ones and heap praise on their parents.  Quickly, we recognized our neighbors, waved across the street, scritched dog chins, and generally got to know our neighborhood in a way that was impossible at our previous house. All because of sidewalks.

A few years passed, and we had children of our own. A wise friend once told us: “When you have kids, play with them in the front yard; lifelong friends happen there.” That is exactly what happened. Toddlers appeared, parents in tow, with the sidewalk being the meeting ground for what are now, 30 years later, some of our nearest and dearest friends.  Over the years, my wife and I have built quite a lovely flower garden that stands between the sidewalk and a small fence on our front yard. It’s really just a haphazard mixture of some perennials and some wildflowers thrown into the ground, but it makes for a nice splash of color for those who walk by.  Over the summer months, morning glories start to take over the fence, and we all wait for their big blue blossoms in the fall. I like to think of this garden as our little gift to those who use the sidewalk.

Earlier this year, we were headed north for a weekend when we received news that the following Monday a town contractor was going to demolish the sidewalk and build another. We immediately were concerned for the garden and the impact this construction would have on the plants. In fact, we were angry about all this and called the Highway Department to inquire.  

Once again, sidewalks brought out the best in us. The Highway Department got us in touch with the contractor, who returned our call immediately. They understood that we wanted to save our plants and agreed to work with us, altering their schedule ever so slightly so that we could return from our weekend and transplant the perennials before the start of the sidewalk work. And, on that Monday morning, a friend arrived, pitchfork and shovel in hand, and all the necessary plants were moved out of harm’s way in a few hectic hours. The workers could not have been nicer.

In just a couple of days, a new sidewalk appeared beyond our front yard fence, a little bit wider and a whole lot smoother. At first, I thought it was a bit of a waste, but now I see it differently. Couples can walk their dog together, not one in front of the other. There is room for a small child, a stroller, and a parent, all walking alongside each other. Young children can now ride their bikes and scooters up and down the sidewalk, and they do, with great joy and laughter. Those less stable on their feet have fewer ridges and mini potholes to trip them, and a person with a walker or cane can navigate the sidewalk and the improved curb ramps seamlessly. All these things happen now on our new sidewalk.

Lots of things have to work together to make a neighborhood, but from what I can see from my front porch, sidewalks are a big part of it.

Paul Wieman is a retired educator. His “Neighborhood Notes” column will offer occasional observations about the Katonah neighborhood he has lived in for 35 years.