All across the South End neighborhood in the city of Boston, people notice a great amount of bricks and cobblestones that have been pushed up by the tree roots and the New England weather.  These damaged sidewalks can make it difficult for people who are trying to get from one place to another quickly, or even just trying to get outside for a walk. They create incredibly uneven and hazardous walkways that can deter many individuals because they could potentially get injured.

The purpose of sidewalks is to provide pedestrians with a secure place to walk, away from vehicles. Due to their current state, sidewalks are not fulfilling their main intention. Many residents in the South End value safety greatly; however, because of the sidewalks’ current condition this value is currently at risk. People can trip or fall resulting in a resident getting injured. Additionally, there are a lot of elderly people in the South End community that struggle to walk around safely. These obstacles on the sidewalks can also impact the everyday lives of people who have mobility issues, families who use strollers, and pedestrians as a whole.

Resetting the bricks is an imperative solution to repairing the sidewalks. While this may not be the most cost effective approach, it will be the most worthwhile and beneficial fix to this issue. The South End community will benefit from hiring a high quality mason who can create a flat, even surface that should last for decades to follow. There is not another resolution that will improve the neighborhood’s infrastructure greater than replacing older, damaged bricks with newer ones. The new bricks and the process of repaving the sidewalks will create and even surface with minimal major fluctuations on the surface. This guarantees less of a risk when any citizen walks through the streets of the South End.

Boston prides itself in being a walkable city; and in the best interest of all the people in this community undamaged sidewalks are critical. They ensure that everyone can move through the community with ease and protects them from the risk of a potential injury. The people of the South End can easily access their work, grocery stores, parks, pharmacies, libraries, restaurants - anything that might be visited on a daily basis that is of reasonable walking distance. However, the worn out, old brick and cobblestone sidewalks make it much harder for individuals to comfortably walk the streets of the South End neighborhood. Restoring the sidewalks doesn’t just benefit one person, it benefits the entire community - as a whole. Whether a person does or does not experience significant mobility issues, the uneven, inconsistent sidewalks affect anyone who chooses to spend time in the South End community.

With that, the people of the South End community are urging you to resolve this issue, by repairing the sidewalks so residents and travelers can feel a sense of safety when walking through the streets of Boston once again.