CLEMMONS
Sidewalks and bike paths top the wish lists of Clemmons residents who weighed in on the village's proposed transportation plan. Planners want to see the list approved in the fall.
More than 40 residents attended a public workshop last Thursday to give their opinions of the work done by planners from Kimley-Horn and Associates and the residents who were chosen for the village's transportation steering committee.
The planners' recommendations include 23 miles of greenways and 17 miles of sidewalks. They focused on making the area around Clemmons Elementary School more accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists.
Lewisville-Clemmons Road and U.S. 158 (Clemmons Road) have also been targeted for improvements.
"When you think of Clemmons, it is that intersection," said Scott Marshall, a committee member.
The ramp off Interstate 40 hits the village center, and there's an overwhelming sense that something needs to be done to make the area more accessible, he said.
Clemmons residents who were polled at the first public workshop to discuss development ideas said that 30 percent of transportation money should go toward paths for pedestrians and bicyclists.
"There's so many things I'd walk to, but I don't like walking in the fronts of people's yards, I don't like walking on the side of the highway," said Michael Randolph, who has lived in Clemmons for 21 years.
Randolph estimated that he lives just 5,000 feet from Tanglewood Park but must drive more than three miles to get there.
"We have to drive somewhere to walk," he said.
Planners reported some resistance from Tanglewood Park officials to the idea of opening up more access points for pedestrians and bicyclists, but said they are optimistic that park officials would agree to the village's ideas as negotiations continue.
Travis Beane, a co-owner of Clemmons Bicycle, said that a Tanglewood Park representative who attended the first workshop seemed excited about the village's plans.
"I think they're willing to work with what Clemmons is trying to do," he said.
The goal is to make the village more family-oriented by connecting the main strip to the West Forsyth Family YMCA and the park, he said.
Planners included traffic calming features such as narrower connecting streets to try to give the area more of a neighborhood feel.
"You don't just fix one street -- you need a system, you need a plan," said planner Stephen Stansbery.
A proposal will be submitted by July 31 so that the Clemmons Village Council can consider it in the fall, he said.
■ Elizabeth DeOrnellas can be reached at 727-7279 or at edeornellas@wsjournal.com.
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