By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Volunteers are being sought to carry clipboards, don safety vests and monitor crosswalks for pedestrian safety in Bowling Green.
In the past decade, 103 pedestrians have been hit by motor vehicles in Bowling Green. To make the city safer to navigate, a walk audit is being planned by BG Save Our Neighborhoods Group and its Transportation and Mobility Action Team, with the assistance of city government.
Last week, Bowling Green City Council learned about the upcoming survey of pedestrian safety. The audit will assess the walkability of the city by recording several factors that might be barriers to pedestrians, such as traffic lights that change too quickly, or the lack of crosswalks, curb cuts or sidewalks.
The walk audit will focus on various intersections in the city that have been suggested by local residents, according to Debbie Thompson, a member of the Transportation and Mobility Action Team.
“We will review the ‘walk/don’t walk’ signs, ADA ramps and crosswalks, as well as pay close attention to the pedestrians using the crosswalks and drivers using the streets,” Thompson said. “We want to be sure all residents feel safe crossing the roads at appropriate times.”
A training for volunteers will be held June 18, at 4 p.m., in a downtown location. Volunteers will be given the materials they will need, and will be assigned to monitor one or two selected areas twice over a two-week period. The total time commitment will be one to two hours. The end date for the audit is July 1.
The BG SONG walk audit team is hoping to recruit elected officials, members of service clubs, members of local churches and any other residents with an interest in pedestrian safety, Thompson said.
Anyone wanting to sign up or ask questions may email bowlinggreensong@gmail.com and mention the walk audit.
Local input is also being sought from BG residents on specific streets or intersections that should be studied in the audit. It is likely a second audit will be conducted in the fall once BGSU is back in session, Thompson said.
The local survey will use a walk audit toolkit created by the American Association of Retired People to tackle the following problems identified by AARP:
- Too many communities are designed exclusively, or almost exclusively for automobile travel.
- Little consideration is given to pedestrians.
- Preventing people from walking are: multi-lane roadways, high speed corridors unsafe to cross, lack of street maintenance and lack of sidewalks.
According to AARP, local leaders and residents can help make neighborhoods more walkable by conducting a walk audit to identify the roads and intersections that should be walkable and crossable, but are instead dangerous by design for pedestrians.
A walk audit can:
- Gather input about community infrastructure needs and investments.
- Educate residents about design elements that support safety.
- Empower community members and local leaders to become agents of change.
The findings of the audit will be presented to City Council.
Also at last week’s council meeting, Lindsay Jo Durham, president of the Bowling Green Human Relations Commission, reported on the grants recently awarded by the commission.
“There were several worthy applicants, and five grants were awarded to four organizations,” Durham said.
- Wood County Educational Service Center was awarded $100 to be used for the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren/Kinship Support Group. This group provides a safe and welcoming environment for those who are raising other people’s children to come together and discuss topics they face. Childcare and meals are offered during the meeting time. The grant will be used to cover the cost of food for the group when in Bowling Green.
- The second grant Wood County ESC received is $250 for its Back to School Trunk or Treat. This event is to supply local students with essential back-to-school supplies they may not otherwise be able to afford. The grant will cover the cost of glue sticks and dry erase markers, two supplies which are rarely donated. “Wood County ESC is committed to the children of our community and making sure nobody is left behind,” Dunham said.
- Live Muzik Group was awarded $250 for its Bowling Green Christmas Community Concert. This event aims to bring the community together and offer a reprieve during the stressful holiday season. Admission to the concert is free, with a canned food donation. This year, the grant will be used to help cover the cost of entertainment.
- BGOPride was awarded $250 for its Bowling Green Pride event on June 28. The purpose of the event is to create a safe and welcoming space for members of the LGBTQIA+ community to celebrate. Pride hosts representatives from other local nonprofits and the health department, which will be providing a mobile health clinic for screenings. The grant to BGOPride will be used to cover the cost of hiring security that has become increasingly necessary, Durham said.
- La Conexion was awarded $250 for its Annual Hispanic Heritage Event on Oct. 4. This celebration commemorates and highlights the rich cultural traditions, history, and contributions of the Hispanic community living in Wood County. The event creates cultural awareness, strengthens community ties, and celebrates inclusion, diversity and the human experience. The grant La Conexion received will be used to help cover the cost of entertainment and the printing of brochures and signage. HRC members felt it was an important time to support the Hispanic community, Dunham said.
City leaders praised the work of the HRC, and its grant program.
“There is really significant growth in the way this is done,” City Council member Bill Herald said.
Mayor Mike Aspacher said the grants are going to organizations that have a strong presence in the community. “Keep up the good work,” he said.
The window to apply for 2026 grants will be from Oct. 1 – Dec. 31, with applications being reviewed at the January 2026 HRC meeting. More information can be found on the city’s website.
