Hayden receives funds for sidewalk near school

The city of Hayden was awarded a $250,000 safety grant to construct a sidewalk in front of Hayden Meadows Elementary School.

The city applied for the grant about 18 months ago from the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council, but was not awarded the money. Recently, however, the council contacted the city saying it had received more funding and would award Hayden a grant to complete the sidewalk — if the city was still interested.

“There’s quite a bit of money here that’s being offered to the city,” Public Works Director Alan Soderling said. “We don’t get those opportunities very often. Staff is prepared to try to take this on.”

The council decided Tuesday it was interested in pursuing the project in order to protect the safety of students as the city grows.

“I drive this section all the time,” Mayor Scott Forssell said. “It is dangerous for kids. We must get this done.”

The sidewalk would run along Hayden Avenue from Maple Street to Finucane Drive and provide a raised sidewalk pathway for the elementary students.

The grant would cover nearly half the cost estimated 18 months ago to build the sidewalk.

“The cost is slightly older than you probably would like at this point,” Soderling said.

The total cost of the sidewalk was last estimated at $535,400, leaving the city to cover the balance of the construction costs from city impact fees.

The next step will be for the city to pay for a full design for the project and update the cost estimates. The project would then be brought back to council for approvals before construction moves forward.

The clock for the grant funding is ticking with the project completion deadline outlined as Jan. 19, 2024, in the grant contract.