Community Traffic Garden
Building Safer, Smarter Communities
Expected Outcomes
Short-term Outcomes (Skills, Knowledge, and Beliefs):
- Enhance knowledge of bicycle and pedestrian safety among Pre-K, elementary, and middle school children.
- Increase awareness of bicycle and pedestrian safety among parents of Pre-K, elementary, and middle school-aged children.
- Improve understanding among children as they transition to independent commuting and begin navigating their communities’ built environments.
- Foster a sense of responsibility in children (Pre-K, elementary, and middle school-aged) to keep themselves and others safe while walking and biking as they become independent commuters.
Intermediate Outcomes (Behaviors):
- Greater adherence to safety practices among vulnerable roadway users.
- Increased compliance with state laws that protect vulnerable roadway users.
- A higher number of students practicing safe walking and biking behaviors.
- More drivers yielding to pedestrians at crosswalks.
- Increased use of marked crosswalks by school children.
- A reduction in the number of children crossing mid-block and outside of crosswalks.
- Improved compliance with safe and legal speed limits in school zones.
Problem and Opportunity
Unintentional pedestrian injuries are a leading cause of death for children, with rural areas like Asotin and Garfield Counties having higher injury rates due to inadequate infrastructure. This program provides a chance to teach children safe walking and biking behaviors, reducing injuries and promoting lifelong safety.
Scope of Work
The program focuses on pedestrian and bicycle safety education for youth in Asotin and Garfield Counties. It includes a permanent traffic garden, a mobile pop-up garden, and a curriculum for pre-K to middle school students. The program targets low-income, rural communities, especially where children have limited access to safe spaces to practice transportation skills. The program’s goal is to teach traffic safety through:
- Permanent Traffic Garden: A dedicated, scaled-down traffic environment where children can practice walking, biking, and traffic navigation.
- Mobile Pop-Up Traffic Garden: A portable setup for schools, camps, and events, along with a curriculum for facilitators.
- Traffic Safety Curriculum: Educational materials will be based on best practices, designed for educators and participants. Participants will receive educational packets and complete surveys to assess the program’s effectiveness.
Pop-up Materials Check-out Process
Community organizations, schools, and other groups can request to use the mobile traffic garden kit via an online form or in-person at the Asotin County Community Service office. The form will gather event details such as the date, number of participants, and if assistance is needed for curriculum or transportation. Users will also collect feedback from participants, possibly through surveys, to evaluate their knowledge and confidence. The project’s marketing contractor will help promote the kit’s availability to various community groups.
Maintenance and Tracking of Materials
Materials for both traffic gardens, including bikes, signage, and traffic signals, will be stored at Asotin County Community Services. Maintenance will be provided by Asotin County Services. An inventory log will track materials using numbered stickers, with tracking facilitated by the project manager. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission will provide the inventory stickers.
Permanent Traffic Garden Location
The permanent traffic garden will be located at Highland Elementary School located at 1432 Highland Avenue in Clarkston, Washington. The location was chosen based on factors like available space, safety, proximity to residential areas, and surrounding infrastructure.
Service Area
The project serves both suburban and rural communities in Asotin and Garfield Counties, which lack pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. Many school routes are unsafe, and the program aims to fill this gap by providing safe spaces for children to learn traffic safety.
Sample Traffic Garden Images
Grant Budget
EMPLOYEE SALARIES AND BENEFITS: $2,944.50
Project Coordinator, Asotin County Community Services Staff Time.
TRAVEL: $283.13
Fuel Reimbursement.
CONTRACT SERVICES: $13,023.75
Manual labor and Promotional campaign consultant fees.
GOODS AND SERVICES: $5,688.55
General Supplies for Permanent and Mobile Traffic Garden.
EQUIPMENT: $2,842.56
Adaptive bicycle, bikes and scooters.
TOTAL GRANT BUDGET: $24,782.50
Direct and Indirect Cost.
What's Still Needed?
ENGINEERING & SURVEYING
GROUND PREPARATION
CONCRETE & ASPHALT INSTALLATION
STRIPING & SIGNAGE
MOBILE TRAFFIC GARDEN TRAILER
STORAGE UNIT
Traffic Garden Impacts
Addressing Safety Challenges
Reducing Risks for Children: Children in rural areas, like those in Asotin and Garfield Counties, are 55% more likely to sustain injuries while biking or walking due to inadequate infrastructure.
Hands-On Safety Education: Provides a safe, controlled environment for children to learn pedestrian and bike safety, reducing injuries and fostering lifelong safety habits.
Increasing Accessibility and Equity
Focus on Low-Income Families: Targets rural and underserved populations who may lack access to safe spaces for biking or walking.
Mobile Traffic Garden: Brings the program to schools, summer camps, and events, ensuring broad accessibility across both counties.
Fostering Community Engagement
Community Partnerships: Involves schools, libraries, law enforcement, and other organizations in planning and implementation.
Incentives for Participation: Helmets, bike lights, and reflective items are provided to encourage engagement and safety.
Improving Infrastructure Awareness
Safe Practice Areas: Creates a permanent traffic garden and mobile pop-up gardens that mimic real-world roadways, complete with intersections, crosswalks, and traffic signals.
Encouraging Safe Behavior: Promotes legal and safe practices for children and raises awareness of pedestrian laws among drivers.
Promoting Lifelong Healthy Habits
Encouraging Active Transportation: Teaches children how to safely walk or bike to school, reducing reliance on vehicles and encouraging physical activity.
Parent Education: Provides guardians with safety materials to reinforce lessons at home.
Evaluation and Growth
Data-Driven Approach: Surveys and evaluations track knowledge gains and behavioral changes, ensuring continuous improvement of the program.
Community Buy-In: Local events, such as ribbon-cuttings and school pop-ups, create opportunities for the community to celebrate and support the project.
Want to Help?
This project is made possible through the efforts of Clarkston, Asotin and Pomeroy School Retirees Association Unit 1 (WSSRA Unit 1), the nonprofit organization of retired and active educators leading efforts to secure in-kind and cash donations for construction, equipment, and materials. 10% of donations are indirectly donated to the nonprofit. Connect with Jan Goodheart to learn more: (208) 413-2312 or [email protected].