Enhance pedestrian safety in Gladden Farms

The Issue

My name is Kayli Hill, and I'm a resident of Gladden Farms in Marana, Arizona. Recently, our community faced a tragedy that has left us all heartbroken and searching for ways to ensure such events never happen again. Although the details may be known only to some, the impact is felt by everyone who calls Gladden Farms home. In the wake of this tragedy, my 11-year-old son expressed a fervent desire to enact change. His willingness to make a difference has inspired me to take action.

Our primary concern is the safety of our neighborhood, particularly for pedestrians. Our goal is to urge the Town of Marana, in collaboration with the Gladden Farms Community Home Owners Association, to prioritize pedestrian safety within our community.

We propose the following actions: updating and improving signage throughout Gladden Farms to ensure that drivers are fully aware of pedestrian areas, and repainting the crosswalks with high-visibility, reflective road paint to ensure they are highly noticeable both day and night. These enhancements, as well as improved speed bump placement, while seemingly simple, can make a tremendous difference in the prevention of accidents and the assurance of safety for all residents, especially our children.

Statistics show that properly marked crosswalks and visible road signage can significantly decrease the likelihood of vehicular accidents involving pedestrians. According to the Federal Highway Administration, enhanced crosswalk visibility reduces pedestrian crashes by 40%. By taking definitive steps towards improving the infrastructure in Gladden Farms, we can create a living environment where the safety and well-being of residents are held in the highest regard.

This issue is deeply personal not only to those directly impacted by tragedy in our community, but by all those who fear for the safety of their loved ones every time they walk or ride bikes through our beautiful neighborhood. Let us take constructive steps to prevent future tragedies.

We call upon the leadership of Marana and the proactive cooperation of the Gladden Farms Community Home Owners Association to hear our plea and take immediate action to implement these necessary safety updates.

Please join us in this mission by signing our petition. Let's work together to make Gladden Farms a safer place for everyone! Please do not donate money, we are just looking for signatures to make a change. Contributions go directly to change.org not the family impacted or the cause of this petition.

Kayli HillPetition Starter

Media inquiries

455

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The Issue

Kayli HillPetition Starter

Media inquiries

Support now

455

Let’s get to 500 signatures!

Petitions with 1,000+ supporters are 5x more likely to win!

The Decision Makers

Town of Marana,

Arizona

Responded

“The bicycle fatality that occurred on August 20 has deeply affected our entire community. We extend our sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of this child, as well as to everyone who has been directly or indirectly impacted by this tragedy. Following the incident, the Town, including the Marana Police and Public Works Departments, began gathering information about traffic safety concerns in the surrounding community. We saw this as an opportunity to not only evaluate the conditions of the August 20 fatality, but to also look at the greater safety of the surrounding neighborhood, particularly how people move throughout the broader community, including the routes children use to walk and bike to school, parks, shopping, and other destinations. This broader perspective will help us identify potential safety concerns and determine where additional evaluation may be warranted. On September 22, the Town hosted a community meeting at Tangerine Farms K–8 to hear directly from residents about how children and families move through the neighborhood and where they experience safety concerns. Town Council and staff, Marana Unified School District staff, and representatives from the Gladden Farms HOA participated in the meeting and engaged with residents. The Town also provided an online opportunity for residents who could not attend the meeting to submit this information through September 30. Staff is now working to evaluate the reported traffic patterns and concerns, determine areas for increased safety measures, and consider other potential strategies, including public education and training opportunities. The Town has a demonstrated history of incorporating community input into traffic safety improvements. For example, in the Sunstone neighborhood along Collamer Drive, the Town added red curb and replaced a yield sign with a stop sign as a result of resident feedback. We recognize that residents want to see meaningful action, and we are committed to carefully evaluating the concerns that have been raised. At the same time, it is important that potential changes be based on a thorough review of traffic conditions, roadway design, applicable standards, and the information gathered from the community. Not every concern will necessarily result in a specific infrastructure change, but every concern received will be considered as part of the broader evaluation. As this work continues, the Town will share findings, updates, and next steps with our residents and will continue looking for additional ways to keep residents informed. If you have specific information about traffic safety concerns, you are welcome to share that information with Town staff at townmanager@maranaaz.gov. Thank you for your concern for the safety of children and families in the Gladden Farms community.”

Town of Marana

Arizona

Responded

Marana Town Council,

6 Members

Arizona