The storms of spring this year feel delayed, and we are seeing the tree-lashing winds a few months later into our summer. As my husband and I take walks, we see some sidewalks in the Camden neighborhoods with some “nature build-up” (stuff from trees and plants) accumulating on the walkway, and the topic of sidewalk safety has come to my attention.
When a tree sheds the leaf buds in the spring, the coating on the sidewalk can create a slippery film. Small twigs may not be noticed if a pedestrian is out with a child or pet, but even small branches can cause a stumble. Mid-sized branches are frequently not flat and can get caught in a stroller’s wheels or can poke a pooch in the eye. A very neighborly thing for all residents to do after a storm is to check for tree/plant debris on the sidewalks and to clear their sidewalk promptly.
With this information, the next step is to see the kindness opportunity for us to clean beyond our section of the sidewalk, but to also clear a neighbor’s sidewalk too. This is especially appreciated when the neighbors have health or age issues that might make the clean-up a difficult task. Conversely, if you are blessed with time on your hands and you know that your next-door neighbors have their hands full with life, please consider extending your clean-up to take care of theirs too.