Chatham Path Paving Is Relief To Middle School Parents

CHATHAM, NJ—The walk to school will be shorter and safer for some Chatham students, and getting them to school will be easier on parents this fall.

The path between Garden Avenue and Chatham Middle School is being paved, and will be maintained in the winter, thanks to some concerned parents and community groups.

"Before, it was unofficial and just dirt and gravel," said Chatham resident Minati O'Connel, whose daughter uses the path. "And the kids would have to walk all the way around in the winter, or we would have to drive them."

O'Connel said the path becoming official means it will be maintained. It will also enable students to walk on a safe path during inclement weather. Chatham Borough did not provide a completion date for the project.

The paved path will allow access to the nearby tennis courts, as well as the school. O'Connel, who has used the park for seven years, credited community group "Safe Routes to School" as well as the borough, for helping to get the path paved.

"The borough was very responsive," O'Connel said, "we were going to go to them and raise the issue, but they began working on it first."

The paving is part of a 1/4 mile walking loop similar to the one at Shepard Kollock Park. O'Connel said the project is a good example of why she lives in Chatham.

"In a bigger town, we would have dealt with much more bureaucracy," she said. "Walking to school safely and living a healthy lifestyle is important Chatham residents."