28 | FEBRUARY 27 • 2020 Jews in the D Yeshiva Beth Yehudah and Oak Park to improve pedestrian safety. Y eshiva Beth Yehudah Schools and the City of Oak Park have received a grant to construct safer pedestrian routes to help students cross busy intersections at 10 Mile Road and Lincoln Road. The $464,321 grant to the Jewish educational institu- tion from the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program was announced at the Oak Park City Council Meeting on Feb. 17. SRTS is facilitated by state agencies through the Federal Highway Administration to enhance pedestrian walkways and traffic signals for com- munities nationwide. “ A great deal of the stu- dents live south of 10 Mile Road, and there were only one or two major crossing points points at Greenfield and Church Street,” Oak Park Director of Technical and Planning Robert Barrett told the Jewish News. “We felt there was an opportunity and need to improve the kids’ routes to schools and to help make it safer.” Barrett explained that city and school officials determine areas of concern through surveying parents and students and imple- menting “a walking audit” to observe how kids travel to and from school. Adjustments at the follow- ing locations are outlined in Yeshiva Beth Yehudah’ s grant award: • Enhancements to the traf- fic signal at Church Street and 10 Mile Road. • A High-intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) signal and pedestrian island at Rue Versailles Drive and 10 Mile Road. • A rapid flashing beacon located at Marlow Place and Lincoln Street. “The improvements to the pedestrian infrastructure on 10 Mile are long overdue,” Oak Park City Manager Erik Tungate said in statement. “With these grant dollars, we are going to create a safer, more walkable district for all of our residents and especial- ly our school-aged children.” Construction is expect- ed to be under way by July 2020 and be completed by early fall. A Yeshiva Beth Yehudah representative could not be reached for comment for this story. ALLISON JACOBS DIGITAL EDITOR CITY OF OAK PARK FACEBOOK Safety First PHOTO CREDIT JERRY ZOLYNSKY To shine the public spotlight on young people in our community, the JN, Jfamily and the Youth Professionals Network created Rising Stars: Teens Making a Difference, a showcase that will highlight 18 remarkable Jewish teens in the Metro Detroit area. Those selected will be featured in the April 30 issue of the JN and will also be recognized on the JN, JCC and Jfamily social media pages. Nominees must live in Michigan, identify as Jewish and be students in grades 9-12; they can be self-nominated or may be nominated by others today through March 8. Nominees should be recognized for impact, contribution and/ or achievement in areas including (but not limited) to: SEEKING TERRIFIC TEENS! To nominate yourself or a teen you know, go to thejewishnews.com and click on the Rising Stars button or to https://jfamily.jccdet.org/rising-stars. The deadline is March 8.