According to urban planners, walkable cities promote community engagement, sustainability and, ultimately, the well-being of people. While Solon has proved to have top qualities, like a well-rounded school district, a strong number of job opportunities through a vast amount of companies contributing to the economy and safety, the city lacks walkable areas, forcing civilians to walk on sides of roads instead of sidewalks.
Take downtown Chagrin Falls, Hudson and Coventry Village—these areas are joined together with shops, restaurants and communal areas. Why? Because of sidewalks, tree lined streets and green spaces. Now, take Liberty Road, SOM Center Road and Aurora Road–while there are bike lanes on these roads, the major connecting parts of these three major Solon roads (and areas) are traffic lights and daily rushes of cars.
Solon’s design of roads, traffic and cars cutting through each corner discourages comfortable walkability, and that is something we should change.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, the most important step to take when creating walkable cities is to implement sidewalks on both sides of streets because it allows for a positive change in influencing social interactions of a community, inevitably affecting the safety and quality of neighborhoods in a positive light.
Solon should take a similar action of adding more sidewalks to Aurora Road, Liberty Road and SOM Center Road. For example, driving down Aurora Road, there are significant amounts of grassy areas which people constantly walk on. Sidewalks should be implemented there and in similar areas because it encourages citizens like me to walk with comfort.
Aside from my opinion, 79% of respondents in a 2023 survey by the National Association of Realtors said they think that being in a walkable neighborhood with easy access to parks, shops and other communal areas is important, and 78% would be willing to pay more to live in a walkable community. People want walkability in their neighborhoods.
It is important to note, though, Solon has already taken a step in the right direction. The Solon to Chagrin Falls Trail is a two-mile-long trail, converted from abandoned railroad lines and has been in the making for the past eight years. The trail is safe, straying away from the exhaust fumes of cars you would find on the streets. This trail is found connected between SOM Center Road, Liberty Road and into the backyard of Chagrin Highland’s grassy areas. Solon should definitely continue these efforts of transforming these areas surrounding the busy roads with walkable trails.
Solon already thrives in areas like education, opportunity and safety among its residents. Extending these areas to walkability isn’t only about changing the looks of Solon streets, rather, it’s about creating a stronger sense of community. With correct planning on changing certain Solon areas, the city can become a more inviting place between neighborhoods—allowing people to do more than just working and living together, but walking together too.
