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Southwest 14th Street is too busy to be earmarked as a “bicycle boulevard” and would have to undergo improvements to be safe for cyclists, some area residents said last week.

City parks employees Gary Fox and Mindy Moore unveiled preliminary plans to designate Southwest 14th from Bundy Street on the south to the Gray’s Lake trail area on the north as a “bicycle boulevard” or “quiet street.”

Coralie Cherry said the street simply is too busy to accommodate bikers.

“I’ve lived on Southwest 14th for 55 years, and the traffic is terrible,” Cherry said. “There are a lot of potholes, and there’s always water running down the street between Southlawn and Porter.”

Fox said that the street has been designated a bike route for years.

“It’s usually not used for that, and if it’s going to be, yes, we do need to make a number of improvements,” Fox said. “The biggest problem may be crossing Park Avenue, which is often hard enough in a car.”

Students at Scavo High School are preparing to dirty their hands as a way of helping Des Moines residents in need.

They’re establishing a community garden, called the Scavo Urban Garden, just behind the school. Organizers have received grant money for the project, and last week they were waiting for a sunny day to break ground for a 55-by-75-foot patch.

“Students here have a strong passion for sharing food with the community and with people in need,” English teacher Eve Shonts said. “We are very excited for the students to partake in this.”

Shonts said students came up with the design of the garden and formed committees for the grounds crew, classroom integration and media and outreach. They plan to donate a portion of the food they grow to the Des Moines Area Religious Council’s food pantries.

The area’s newest trail will open with jubilation next weekend.

The 25-mile, $14.7 million High Trestle Trail will officially open with a celebration Saturday.
The trail includes a pedestrian bridge a half-mile long and 13 stories tall.

The celebration will feature events in each of the five trail towns – Ankeny, Madrid, Sheldahl, Slater and Woodward.

In Ankeny, activities will take place throughout the day at the trailhead, 120 N.W. Ash Drive. The official dedication and ribbon-cutting is at 11 a.m.

The city of Indianola is ready to move forward with the paving of South Y Street, but some property owners are concerned with the cost.

The project is expected to cost $900,000. Property owners on South Y Street and West 10th Avenue have been assessed for $535,000 of that figure.

Of the 57 property owners assessed, the city has received eight or nine letters opposing the project.

Nick Adams’ property was assessed $3,500, as were most properties on West 10th Avenue.

“Sooner or later it is going to be paved,” Adams said.

Jeff and Amy Brown were assessed $21,068.78 and don’t think they will get their money’s worth.

“Having the road paved provides very little additional benefit to me,” Jeff Brown said.

Instead, Brown sees several negative aspects of having the road paved, including increased traffic, noise and speeding, as well as the burden of having to clear a sidewalk in the winter.

As Lady Gaga’s mama told her, “We are all born superstars.”

Waukee High School students were out to

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