A new sign for safety

Seward children advocate for stop sign at intersection

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Seward 11-year-olds Lily Perkins and Kalli Brauneis were tired of being unable to play outside without fear of being hit by a car, so they decided to use their voices to make their neighborhood safer.
The neighbors, who frequently play outside together, noticed cars traveling through the uncontrolled intersection at First Street and Jackson Avenue. Lily said she’s nearly been hit several times, including a close call on her bicycle.
“We have a lot of children around here and I’ve almost gotten hit at that corner before,” she said. “Cars go through fast.”
“We moved here nine years ago and it’s always been a problem,” added Kalli’s mom, Jen.
In order to express their concern on a higher level, nearly three weeks ago Lily and Kalli wrote a letter to Seward Mayor Josh Eickmeier, asking for the city to install stop signs at the intersection.
The letter said, in part, “The cars drive fast down both streets and often don’t look and we have a lot of little kids around. We see cars that are going super fast without looking while going through the corner.
“Installing a stop sign might help some people feel safer to cross the street. Those are some reasons why we should install a stop sign on the corner of First and Jackson Avenue.”
Eickmeier, the Seward City Council and City of Seward staff took the message to heart and within a week, two stop signs were approved and installed at the intersection May 14.
Lily said she, at the very least, hoped Eickmeier would read the letter but was thrilled to see it made her desired impact.
“I just thought that maybe they’d take us seriously but maybe they wouldn’t because we are 11,” she said. “But I was super excited.”
With the stop signs in place, the children in the neighborhood can at least start to feel slightly safer; however, motorists are still adjusting to the new traffic controls. While there’s still progress to be made, Lily’s mother, Shantell Perkins, is pleased with the children’s efforts and the city’s responsiveness to the request.
“We’re totally proud of them,” Perkins said, “and we’re impressed with how seriously Mayor Eickmeier took it.”
Lily said she’s proud their voices were heard and said she hopes it’s an example to other children her age that their opinion and feelings do matter and can be expressed in an impactful manner.
“Just keeping trying to do things like this and help out the community,” she said.