<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1zU8ia_1Glefn2100" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1zU8ia_1Glefn2100" width="1600" height="1200" ></figure>Dorri PartainDuring an hour-long walk along residential streets and across St. John Ave. to Budd Park, Indian Mound residents gathered to share information and concerns with City Councilman Crispin Rea (Fourth District-at-Large) and other City department heads on Tuesday, Oct. 27.Participants gathered in the parking lot of the Mattie Rhodes Center (148 N. Topping Ave.), where Councilman Rea spoke about the purpose of the assessment walk and being able to see the actual problems first hand.“I have learned that when you get engineers and problem solvers on staff, standing there looking at an issue, they will start trying to figure out solutions,” said Rea. “And that’s always very, very helpful to do, rather than me just sending an email and asking you all to take a look at it.”Rea asked that City staff, from Public Works to the Parks Dept., to engage in trying to fix some of the issues they would encounter along the planned route.Indian Mound Neighborhood Association President Jimmy Fitzner led the group as they headed down Scarritt Avenue in front of James Elementary.“I didn’t want this to be a complaint walk, I want it to be an asset walk to talk about things we’re doing and building in this community- an opportunity walk- because there are challenges and opportunities, and things we’re doing,” Fitzner said.The group stopped at the entrance of an alleyway between N.Topping and N. Bellaire where illegal dumping has been an issue. Rea and his staff suggested a trail cam could be installed to assist with prosecuting dumpers and Neighborhood Planning and Development would open a case to deal with trash on private property along the alley.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0ZAAHN_1Glefn2100" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0ZAAHN_1Glefn2100" width="1200" height="1155" ></figure>Among the assets that Fitzner shared with the group are homes on the 300 N. blocks of Bellaire and White that have been or are being rehabbed, including a home that had been vacant for 12 years.Sidewalk conditions were also assessed for buckling due to large trees along N. White and a damaged ADA curb ramp at N. White and Scarritt. City staff were asked to act quickly to address accumulations of bulky trash along the 100 N. block of White Ave. and for the Office of Language Access (OLA) to provide information regarding trash collection in multiple languages along the block.An open manhole was discovered along St. John Ave. at Drury Ave. and was reported immediately. Public Works was on the scene within minutes to cover the hole with plywood and caution markers until a suitable cover could be installed.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1AuZIi_1Glefn2100" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1AuZIi_1Glefn2100" width="1200" height="1600" ></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=28OHHW_1Glefn2100" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=28OHHW_1Glefn2100" width="1200" height="1600" ></figure>At the final stop in Budd Park, Jessica Blackwell, Senior Landscape Designer for Parks &amp; Recreation provided an update of approved funding allocated for park improvements including replacement of the closed north playground, a security camera, emergency call button, improved lighting and two additional benches and trash receptacles.During the week following the walk, neighbors have reported several positive outcomes, namely the replacement of the missing manhole cover and trimming of trees and brush along the alleyway from St. John Ave. to Scarritt, a frequent shortcut for students at James Elementary.Jesus Diaz, Executive Vice-president for the Indian Mound Neighborhood Association, said he was pleased that Councilman Rea brought out additional City staff to participate during the Oct. 27 walk.“I was really happy that he wanted to be out in the community with us,” said Diaz. “It wasn’t just himself, he invited other individuals from City departments to accompany him and everybody was able to provide a little bit of feedback in their department of the things that we could do for our communities. Him listening to us and what we hoped to do for the neighborhood was also very important.The fact that the things that we saw in real time were getting taken care of was very encouraging. When we went to Budd Park, it was really reassuring that he had some personal stories of his time spent in the park and how he knows that it’s the heartbeat in the center of our community here in Indian Mound,” stated Diaz about Rea’s commitment and participation.The City Council Fourth District includes neighborhoods in Northeast, Westside and Northland, where similar walks have taken place during Rea’s tenure as councilman.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1tw1L7_1Glefn2100" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1tw1L7_1Glefn2100" width="1200" height="1614" ></figure>All photos by Dorri PartainA graduate of Central Missouri State University, Dorri’s first foray into journalism began at Maple Woods Community College. Her love for old homes brought her to Historic Northeast in 1986. Immersed in the community, she developed a love for its parks, with Indian Mound and Cliff Drive holding a special place in her heart. Dorri’s journey with the Northeast News began in 1998, where she contributed a freelance feature column until 2006. In 2016, she officially joined the News staff, bringing her storytelling skills to the wider community. Outside of her work at Northeast News, Dorri is a devoted mother to two sons and three kitty companions. An avid vintage collector, her collections include matchbooks and other incredible items that are quite familiar within our “Remember This” weekly feature. </div></body>

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During an hour-long walk along residential streets and across St. John Ave. to Budd Park, Indian Mound residents gathered to share information and concerns with City Councilman Crispin Rea (Fourth District-at-Large) and other City department heads on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Participants gathered in the parking lot of the Mattie Rhodes...

Indian Mound Asset Walk Addresses Goals and Issues

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During an hour-long walk along residential streets and across St. John Ave. to Budd Park, Indian Mound residents gathered to share information and concerns

Indian Mound Asset Walk Addresses Goals and Issues

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