Courtesy Vineyard City

In the “olden days” they called it chivalry. In Vineyard, it appears to be alive and well with help from Utah County Sheriff’s Office deputies and the Safe Walk program.

The deputies have made it easy for Vineyard residents and visitors to feel safe as they walk home at night or back to their cars from events. It is not that Vineyard in laden with crime, but there are many residents who have petitioned the city council and deputies to help them be safe.

Resident Natashia Neckles recently spoke at a Vineyard City Council meeting, noting that a lot of the units in her development were rented by students and young professionals. This created an excessive amount of cars, she said, causing young women to have to park far away and walk home by themselves late at night.

Lydia Overman, a nearby resident who spoke at the same meeting, mentioned that she typically walked to her vehicle at 3:30 a.m. by herself and felt unsafe.

Mayor Julie Fullmer let these women know about Vineyard’s Safe Walk program.

Courtesy Vineyard City

Lt. Holden Rockwell, in the sheriff’s Vineyard office, has been integral in initiating the Safe Walk program.

“While Vineyard is one of the safest cities in the region, crimes can still happen, even in places like Vineyard. We offer Safe Walks to help those in situations where walking alone doesn’t feel safe to them,” he said.

Students from multiple universities have found their way to Vineyard due to housing availability programs, such as Brigham Young University’s off-campus housing allowances. In addition, Utah Valley University has grown at a rapid pace due to its unique model of being an integrated university and community college. Vineyard borders UVU’s main campus and houses another 250-plus acres of university property within city boundaries.

Due to a lack of affordable housing in Utah, some residents have struggled to find homes, in some cases leading to an over-occupation of properties. Meantime, Vineyard leaders have worked to cultivate housing availability that serves residents of varying ages, phases of life and occupations, including creating homes for teachers, nurses, firefighters and other essential service personnel, according to Kathryn Newman, Vineyard’s public information officer.

“These needs and behaviors change city-wise management when it comes to access, connectivity and parking,” Fullmer said. “Working with top planners, the city has to be nimble as it models for the high growth rate and the occupancy needs of Utah County. Quality of life is about more than being safe; it’s about feeling safe.”

Fullmer said the city has partnered with the Utah Transit Authority to establish transit lines and provide access to buses and trails for students and pedestrians. Other work, she added, has been done in tandem with the Utah Department of Transportation to expand road networks and set up active transportation connections.

“Additionally, the city has been working with communities and (homeowner associations) to help them better manage parking,” Fullmer said. “Vineyard works to keep flexibility in parking options in order to accommodate unexpected growth or uses. Parking and access are our top priorities. Upholding agreements is a big part of that success.”

During her remarks to the City Council, Overman mentioned that, in her experience, her HOA had been ineffective in upholding their covenants, conditions and restrictions — collectively called CC&Rs — in response to how the management of occupancy was going in her development. She also told the council that while there was not enough parking, the code enforcement would displace people who can’t afford housing elsewhere.

“We are working closely with our HOAs to help them manage their parking, enforce their CC&Rs and find ways to accommodate their additional growth needs. While we’ve had great success, this can take time,” Fullmer said.

“The most important thing is that we want our community to be safe and feel safe,” she added. “I’ve experienced the feeling of uncertainty and concern while walking alone somewhere late at night. Safe Walk is an additional resource for residents, especially as we work to help neighborhoods and HOAs establish parking management and uphold their agreements.”

The Vineyard Division of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office is proactive in helping residents feel safe by providing Safe Walks, according to Rockwell. “Residents and visitors can feel safe when traveling from point A to point B in Vineyard. Any time, day or night, the nonemergency dispatch line is ready for residents and visitors to call and request a Safe Walk,” he said.

Anyone who is requesting a Safe Walk can call 801-798-5600. Typically arriving in less than five minutes, deputies will escort them to their destination in a way that helps them feel safest, whether by foot or by car.

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