GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Neighborhood advocates pressed Grand Rapids city commissioners Tuesday to fund $325,000 in traffic safety improvements on Kalamazoo Avenue, describing a dangerous corridor where children “run across the street” and elderly residents struggle to cross safely.

Ellen Atkins, representing the King Park Neighborhood Association and Together West Michigan, requested $200,000 for a four-way stop and $125,000 for a flashing crosswalk on Kalamazoo Avenue between Evergreen and Hall streets. The commission took no immediate action but will consider the funding request during budget discussions.

“Our children should not have to run across the street on Kalamazoo, nor should old ladies like me who can’t run quite as fast,” Atkins told commissioners during public comment.

The Kalamazoo Avenue corridor joins a growing list of Grand Rapids streets facing traffic safety concerns. Mayor David LaGrand acknowledged the city is grappling with multiple problem areas, noting that “Michigan between Fuller and Plymouth is an official highway. Fuller between Michigan and Fulton is an unofficial highway.”

City Manager Mark Washington indicated the traffic safety requests would need to compete with other priorities in the city’s upcoming budget process. The commission provided no timeline for when funding decisions might be made.

The King Park neighborhood’s organized push for traffic calming measures reflects broader resident frustrations with dangerous streets throughout the city. Similar safety concerns have emerged in multiple neighborhoods as traffic volumes and speeds increase on residential corridors.

Atkins’ advocacy represents a coordinated effort between neighborhood associations and regional advocacy groups to pressure city officials for concrete safety investments. The specific dollar amounts requested suggest the groups have researched implementation costs and are pushing for immediate action rather than long-term studies.

The traffic safety funding request now moves to the city’s budget deliberations, where it will compete against other infrastructure needs and spending priorities.