Photos courtesy of Alexa Taylor
Barricades went up on some streets in Winnetka Heights and other Oak Cliff neighborhoods recently as part of a limited program to slow some streets in Dallas.
The City of Dallas gave 30-day permits to 10 blocks where 25% of neighbors signed on to calm their streets.
The blocks are still open to local traffic, delivery and emergencies, but barricades discourage through traffic. An ordinance that City Council approved last month also allows neighbors to use parking spaces for park space.
Alexa Taylor received one of the first permits for her block on Winnetka at Tenth Street. That was already a socially happening corner where neighbors in four houses gather after 6 p.m. on weeknights to chat and let their kids play.
They often observe drivers speeding and rolling through the stop signs.
The Better Block and Amanda Popken put together the proposal, which City Councilman Chad West championed.
The idea is to reduce traffic, making streets safer for kids to toss a ball in the street and neighbors to socialize while keeping their distance.
Taylor and her neighbors took the extra steps of painting temporary bikeway markings and blocking off a few parking spaces.
She says one neighbor has complained to her with concern that the blockade could cause traffic to be diverted to other blocks. But the Better Block says the pilot program has gone well, and they are considering whether to expand it.
