School Crosswalks Along Chelten Parkway Will Be Staffed, Chief Says

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Cherry Hill's police chief promised to have crosswalks staffed along Chelten Parkway near Kingston Elementary School until a longer-term solution can be found.

The pledge came after several parents expressed concern at Monday's Cherry Hill Council Meeting for their children's safety after finding out several crosswalks along Chelten Parkway did not have crossing guards.

The lack of crossing guards is compounded by parked cars, overgrown brush and speeding cars that block the view of children who use crosswalks along Chelten Parkway to get to school, according to Cherry Hill resident Ann Geraci.

"This is an accident waiting to happen," she said. "There are 182 days in the school year. I personally know at least ten students who use Chelten Parkway. That's 3,640 potential chances for a horrible incident."

Another Cherry Hill resident, Jessica Simkins, asked the police department to staff the crosswalks along Chelten Parkway.

"The police department needs to provide a solution if they cannot find support for those positions," she said. "They need to take the time to provide safe passage for our students for those short periods of the day twice a day."

Cherry Hill Police Chief Robert Kempf said members of his department will staff the Chelten Parkway crosswalks "until we come up with some solutions."

The Cherry Hill Police Department is not the only New Jersey law enforcement agency facing problems fillings all of its school crossing guard positions. Similar problems have been reported in several other parts of New Jersey, including Moorestown, Westfield, West Orange and South Brunswick.

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