Protect Parkland Place Residents: Install a Safe Crosswalk
The Issue
A Request for a Formal Pedestrian-Safety Evaluation and a Safe, Designated Crossing
We, the undersigned residents, caregivers, family members, library patrons, and concerned members of the Parkersburg community, respectfully request that the governmental authority having jurisdiction over the roadway near Parkland Place and the Parkersburg & Wood County Public Library's Emerson Branch conduct a formal pedestrian and traffic-safety evaluation and establish an appropriate, clearly designated pedestrian crossing at or near this location.
This is not simply a matter of convenience. It is a matter of public safety.
Why This Crossing Is Needed
Parkland Place is located at 1250 31st Street in Parkersburg, immediately near the Parkersburg & Wood County Public Library's Emerson Branch at 3100 Emerson Avenue.
Residents of Parkland Place—including older adults and individuals who may have disabilities or mobility limitations—as well as caregivers and other members of the community have reason to travel between the residential property and the library area.
I personally provide in-home care to residents at Parkland Place and regularly cross in this area while walking a client's dog near the library. I have personally experienced vehicles coming dangerously close to me while attempting to cross.
I have also been told by Parkland Place residents that a resident was struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross in this area.
Residents have further told me that previous efforts have been made to obtain approval for a crosswalk at this location without success.
These latter statements are included as reports made to me by residents and are not presented as independently verified findings. Regardless, my own experiences crossing here demonstrate why I believe the location deserves a professional pedestrian-safety evaluation.
West Virginia Law Demonstrates Why a Designated Crossing Matters
West Virginia law specifically addresses the rights and responsibilities of both pedestrians and motorists.
West Virginia Code §17C-10-2 — Pedestrians' right-of-way in crosswalks
When traffic-control signals are not present or operating, West Virginia law generally requires a driver to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian who is crossing within a crosswalk when the conditions specified by the statute are met. The law also prohibits a pedestrian from suddenly entering the path of a vehicle when the vehicle is too close for the driver to yield safely.
Official statute: https://code.wvlegislature.gov/17C-10-2/
West Virginia Code §17C-10-3 — Crossing at other than crosswalks
West Virginia law provides that a pedestrian crossing a roadway somewhere other than a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection must yield the right-of-way to vehicles on the roadway.
Official statute: https://code.wvlegislature.gov/17C-10-3/
This distinction is especially important here. A properly located and designated crossing would create a clearly identifiable place for pedestrians to cross and motorists to anticipate pedestrian traffic.
West Virginia Code §17C-10-4 — Drivers to exercise due care
West Virginia law further requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians on a roadway and to exercise proper precaution upon observing certain vulnerable pedestrians.
Official statute: https://code.wvlegislature.gov/17C-10-4/
West Virginia Code §17C-1-43 — Definition of "Crosswalk"
West Virginia law recognizes a crosswalk at an intersection under circumstances defined by statute and also defines a crosswalk as a portion of roadway at an intersection or elsewhere that is distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other surface markings.
Official statute: https://code.wvlegislature.gov/17C-1-43/
Together, these provisions demonstrate why identifying an appropriate pedestrian crossing location can have genuine safety significance.
What We Are Asking Officials to Do
We respectfully request that the governmental authority responsible for this roadway:
Conduct a formal pedestrian and traffic-safety evaluation of the area between or near Parkland Place and the Parkersburg & Wood County Public Library's Emerson Branch.
Evaluate and establish an appropriate designated pedestrian crossing at the safest feasible location.
Determine whether the location warrants additional pedestrian-safety measures, including appropriate signage, pavement markings, lighting, curb or accessibility improvements, pedestrian warning devices, flashing beacons, traffic-calming measures, or other engineering treatments deemed appropriate.
Consider the needs of older adults, individuals with disabilities or mobility limitations, caregivers, library patrons, and other pedestrians who use this area.
Review any available traffic-volume, pedestrian, crash, speed, and roadway-design data relevant to determining the safest treatment for this location.
Provide the community and Parkland Place management with a written response explaining the findings of the safety evaluation and the actions that can be taken to improve pedestrian safety at this location.
We Should Not Have to Wait for Another Person to Be Hurt
The purpose of this petition is not to dictate to traffic engineers exactly how the roadway must be redesigned. We are asking the responsible authorities to recognize an apparent pedestrian-safety concern, professionally evaluate it, and implement the appropriate safety measures supported by that evaluation.
For an older adult, a person with limited mobility, a caregiver accompanying a client, a library patron, or any other pedestrian, safely crossing a roadway should not require taking an unnecessary risk.
Preventing an injury is better than responding to one.
We respectfully ask the appropriate City of Parkersburg and/or West Virginia transportation authorities with jurisdiction over this roadway to evaluate this location and take reasonable, appropriate action to provide a safer pedestrian crossing.
Please sign this petition if you believe the residents of Parkland Place and members of the surrounding Parkersburg community deserve a safer way to cross.
Let's act before someone else gets hurt.
80
The Issue
A Request for a Formal Pedestrian-Safety Evaluation and a Safe, Designated Crossing
We, the undersigned residents, caregivers, family members, library patrons, and concerned members of the Parkersburg community, respectfully request that the governmental authority having jurisdiction over the roadway near Parkland Place and the Parkersburg & Wood County Public Library's Emerson Branch conduct a formal pedestrian and traffic-safety evaluation and establish an appropriate, clearly designated pedestrian crossing at or near this location.
This is not simply a matter of convenience. It is a matter of public safety.
Why This Crossing Is Needed
Parkland Place is located at 1250 31st Street in Parkersburg, immediately near the Parkersburg & Wood County Public Library's Emerson Branch at 3100 Emerson Avenue.
Residents of Parkland Place—including older adults and individuals who may have disabilities or mobility limitations—as well as caregivers and other members of the community have reason to travel between the residential property and the library area.
I personally provide in-home care to residents at Parkland Place and regularly cross in this area while walking a client's dog near the library. I have personally experienced vehicles coming dangerously close to me while attempting to cross.
I have also been told by Parkland Place residents that a resident was struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross in this area.
Residents have further told me that previous efforts have been made to obtain approval for a crosswalk at this location without success.
These latter statements are included as reports made to me by residents and are not presented as independently verified findings. Regardless, my own experiences crossing here demonstrate why I believe the location deserves a professional pedestrian-safety evaluation.
West Virginia Law Demonstrates Why a Designated Crossing Matters
West Virginia law specifically addresses the rights and responsibilities of both pedestrians and motorists.
West Virginia Code §17C-10-2 — Pedestrians' right-of-way in crosswalks
When traffic-control signals are not present or operating, West Virginia law generally requires a driver to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian who is crossing within a crosswalk when the conditions specified by the statute are met. The law also prohibits a pedestrian from suddenly entering the path of a vehicle when the vehicle is too close for the driver to yield safely.
Official statute: https://code.wvlegislature.gov/17C-10-2/
West Virginia Code §17C-10-3 — Crossing at other than crosswalks
West Virginia law provides that a pedestrian crossing a roadway somewhere other than a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection must yield the right-of-way to vehicles on the roadway.
Official statute: https://code.wvlegislature.gov/17C-10-3/
This distinction is especially important here. A properly located and designated crossing would create a clearly identifiable place for pedestrians to cross and motorists to anticipate pedestrian traffic.
West Virginia Code §17C-10-4 — Drivers to exercise due care
West Virginia law further requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians on a roadway and to exercise proper precaution upon observing certain vulnerable pedestrians.
Official statute: https://code.wvlegislature.gov/17C-10-4/
West Virginia Code §17C-1-43 — Definition of "Crosswalk"
West Virginia law recognizes a crosswalk at an intersection under circumstances defined by statute and also defines a crosswalk as a portion of roadway at an intersection or elsewhere that is distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other surface markings.
Official statute: https://code.wvlegislature.gov/17C-1-43/
Together, these provisions demonstrate why identifying an appropriate pedestrian crossing location can have genuine safety significance.
What We Are Asking Officials to Do
We respectfully request that the governmental authority responsible for this roadway:
Conduct a formal pedestrian and traffic-safety evaluation of the area between or near Parkland Place and the Parkersburg & Wood County Public Library's Emerson Branch.
Evaluate and establish an appropriate designated pedestrian crossing at the safest feasible location.
Determine whether the location warrants additional pedestrian-safety measures, including appropriate signage, pavement markings, lighting, curb or accessibility improvements, pedestrian warning devices, flashing beacons, traffic-calming measures, or other engineering treatments deemed appropriate.
Consider the needs of older adults, individuals with disabilities or mobility limitations, caregivers, library patrons, and other pedestrians who use this area.
Review any available traffic-volume, pedestrian, crash, speed, and roadway-design data relevant to determining the safest treatment for this location.
Provide the community and Parkland Place management with a written response explaining the findings of the safety evaluation and the actions that can be taken to improve pedestrian safety at this location.
We Should Not Have to Wait for Another Person to Be Hurt
The purpose of this petition is not to dictate to traffic engineers exactly how the roadway must be redesigned. We are asking the responsible authorities to recognize an apparent pedestrian-safety concern, professionally evaluate it, and implement the appropriate safety measures supported by that evaluation.
For an older adult, a person with limited mobility, a caregiver accompanying a client, a library patron, or any other pedestrian, safely crossing a roadway should not require taking an unnecessary risk.
Preventing an injury is better than responding to one.
We respectfully ask the appropriate City of Parkersburg and/or West Virginia transportation authorities with jurisdiction over this roadway to evaluate this location and take reasonable, appropriate action to provide a safer pedestrian crossing.
Please sign this petition if you believe the residents of Parkland Place and members of the surrounding Parkersburg community deserve a safer way to cross.
Let's act before someone else gets hurt.
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Petition created on August 24, 2026