MACON, Ga. — Macon-Bibb leaders are taking the first step in designing road improvements to Walnut Street near Carolyn Crayton Park.
The commission voted to move forward with a $140,000 plan with BTBB, Inc., a local architectural design company.
They say erosion and right-of-way issues are some of the challenges they're working to fix.
Mitchell Florence travels along Walnut Street on his daily walks from Daybreak Resource Center to Carolyn Crayton Park.
"It's a good thing what they're doing for the community, building the sidewalks. Keeping it safe, keeping us safe," Florence said. "You often have people walking back and forth, and also people driving crazy, reckless sometimes. A couple of people got hit here."
Bibb leaders are trying to relieve that risk for many pedestrians.
A 'no parking' sign that currently stands near the intersection of Walnut and Seventh Street could soon be replaced by a 120-unit parking lot designed by BTBB. The finished project will have sidewalks and bike lanes.
Alex Morrison, Director of Macon-Bibb's Urban Development Authority, recognizes the need for a new sidewalk and road pattern to accommodate those walking along the road and to the park.
"There's curb cut issues, the sidewalk is functionally nonexistent in the area where there's been erosion of it over time. This is a lot of engineering work and architectural work," Morrison said.
But with these new additions, Florence also hopes for additional street lights to prevent more accidents from happening.
"Without it, you know, it's crazy for the community because some people getting hit, you have some people disabled, some people mentally challenged that really need these. So that's a very good thing that they're doing," Florence said.
Morrison says BTBB will oversee the different subsidiary engineers and surveyors who will address the improvements.
They are also planning to address water flow issues stemming from a nearby spring once they move forward with a contractor.