Politics & Government

City of Salem Announces New Sidewalk Shoveling Program

The city recently announced a new initiative aimed at clearing highly-trafficked Salem sidewalks after snowstorms.

The Salem Mayor's Office announced Tuesday that the city will begin implementing a new initiative focused on better clearing snow from sidewalks and crossings that front municipal or public property. 

The initiative will be a collaborative effort with the North Shore Workforce Investment Board, North Shore Community Development Coalition, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem, the City GIS office, and the Department of Public Services. 

The city has developed a pool of Salem area youths who can be deployed to help clear snow from heavily utilized sidewalks and crosswalks following major snow storms. These workers will supplement the existing work undertaken by DPS employees. 

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“We are a pedestrian-friendly community in so many respects,” Mayor Kim Driscoll said in a prepared statement. “With so many people living and working downtown especially, we wanted to put extra effort into ensuring our City is accessible and walkable, even following a major snow event.” 

The initiative will focus on sidewalks that border municipal property and active downtown crosswalks. 

Find out what's happening in Salemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“While the city makes every effort to clear our pedestrian ways as soon feasible after a storm, it really is important for property owners to clear their own sidewalks, as well,” DPS Director John Tomasz said in a release. “This will help prevent children, the elderly, and the general public from having to walk in the street.”

Salem also offers a Snow Shoveling Assistance Program to help elderly and infirmed residents connect with available shovelers in their neighborhood. Details about the program are available here

In addition the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem occasionally provides shoveling assistance; contact Andre Daley at Adaley@bgcgs.org to sign up.


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