The Walden Lake Community Association has discovered that Walden Lake owns approximately 10 acres of land behind Walden Lake Elementary School, near Turkey Creek Road. The board is hoping to work with the school to create a safe drop-off zone by using some of this land for parents and students to park.
The idea was prompted after a concerned resident made comments at the June 15 meeting about poor traffic flow on Barrett Avenue and Emerson Place from parents dropping their children off at Walden Lake Elementary.
The Westwood resident, who asked to remain unnamed, said parents frequently park on those two streets and block mailboxes and driveways. Some drivers also park on the lawns of residents and remain illegally parked for up to 45 minutes at a time, ignoring “No Parking” signs.
Because of the parking, the view is obstructed when turning left from Emerson and onto Barrett, and drivers must swing wide to turn from Barrett onto Emerson.
Barrett Avenue and Emerson Place are narrow streets, and parking on both sides restricts fire and EMS vehicles from getting down the streets. The fire hydrant on Emerson has also been blocked by parked cars.
In addition, students have also cut through the streets and neighboring houses to get to Walden Lake Elementary, and some residents have found snack bags and soda cans littered in their lawns or stuffed in the hedges.
A new loading zone will hopefully create fewer safety hazards, Bob Hunter says.
“This becomes a much more safe area for the children to load,” he said.
SECURITY CAMERAS
At the Monday, July 20, meeting, the WLCA discussed installing two security cameras at the Alexander Street entrance to Walden Lake, one ingoing and one outgoing, and two security cameras to the entrance at Trapnell Road.
The WLCA also discussed bringing back the community mail drop box, which was previously taken away because of acts of vandalism. If the drop box is reinstalled another security camera would be installed at the box’s location. This would eliminate a drive for residents to the post office.
“It’s my hope that we can work it out to get that mail drop box for the community,” Hunter said.
Last year, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated two incidences of fires at the mailbox at the entrance to Walden Lake; one in January, and one in February. Walden Lake’s security camera at the time was mounted at the gate, but it did not pick up any of the vandalism because it was directed downward to photograph incoming vehicle license plates.
No decision on either the security cameras or the mail drop box was made at the July 20 meeting because the current budget does not allow for the additional expenses, but the board will revisit the topics in January.
If security cameras are installed, equipment for the security cameras at the gates would cost $432 per month, with an additional $260 per month for maintenance. The cameras would be under a five-year contract with United Security Alliance if the board accepts the bid at the meeting in the new year.
The cameras would provide around the clock surveillance.
IN OTHER NEWS
– The WLCA approved flags for the community for the upcoming Labor Day holiday, as well as Memorial Day and Independence Day. The flags will be placed at the five major entrances to Walden Lake and the entrances at each individual subdivision. The $600 needed for the flags was donated by Terry Ottinger, of United Security Alliance.
– By the end of September, Walden Lake residents will be able to use an updated, user-friendly website that allows them to easily find information on a faster platform.
The website, which will also be mobile-friendly, will feature an event calendar and the budget and minutes from the WLCA board meetings. In the future, the website may also feature online bill paying, and residents will be able to receive the Walden Lake newsletter electronically.
“With this new website design, it’s very exciting,” WLCA President Bob Hunter said. “Staff and board members will upload at least weekly. People can go and find out what’s going on in the community.”
– Walden Lake resident Mary Jane Wagner’s suggested changes to the Christmas decoration program were approved by the WLCA at the meeting. Wagner, who has seen a decrease in participation in the annual contest over the last few years, is hopeful that revamping the contest will encourage more Walden Lake residents to decorate their houses. A grand prize will be awarded, as well as a first, second and third place prize. The contest will be judged by non-residents, such as artists.
DATE TO KNOW
What: Walden Lake Back to School Party for K-5
Where: Walden Lake Park
When: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11
Info: A ribbon cutting will be held to honor the recent improvements to the exterior of the community at 5:45 p.m. There will also be food, fun and more
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.