UPDATE July 29, 12:16pm | Fifth District councilwoman Gerrie Schipske will hold her second Shaping Up the Fifth walk on Saturday, July 30.
The walk will run from 8 to 10 a.m. Participants should meet at Keller Elementary School, 7020 E. Brittain St.
Each monthly walk targets a different Fifth District neighborhood, according to a July 28 e-mail reminder about the walk.
“You and your families are invited to walk with me around the district,” Schipske states in the e-mail. “Let’s work together to assess the infrastructure in our neighborhoods.”
June 21, 10:45am | Fifth District residents looking for a little extra exercise and who are concerned about the state of city infrastructure in the Fifth District are in luck, because Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske has just the opportunity such constituents are seeking.
Dubbed “Shaping up the Fifth District,” the councilwoman is inviting her constituents to join her in taking stock of various infrastructure-related needs — such as a cracked sidewalk that needs to be fixed or a faded street sign that needs to be replaced — while walking the district’s neighborhoods.
The monthly walks will start this Saturday, June 25, from 9 to 11 a.m. beginning at 7130 E. Premium St.
“I started walking the Fifth District several years ago,” Schipske said in a statement. “But the district is 11.5 square miles, and I need help in order to get to every street so that the city has a complete inventory of what needs to be repaired or replaced.”
The venture is expected to no only positively affect the health of participants and the health of the community, but also save the city money by eradicating the need for city staffers to complete the inventory.
Participatingn residents who walk a neighborhood will be given a bright yellow “How Can I Help You?” card that includes a checklist that can be used to identify what needs to be fixed at each location walked, according to information provided by Schipske’s district office.
For those who do not join the walks but have identified necessary repairs can report the situation to the city by visiting LBDistrict5.com and filling out the “Service Request” form. The information can also be submitted via e-mail to [email protected], leaving a comment on Schipske’s blog at GerrieSchipske.com or calling her office at 562-570-6932.
“Shaping Up the 5th District will be just one more way residents can get involved in making certain the city is informed about what needs to be fixed,” she said.
Those who plan to attend are urged to wear comfortable clothing and appropriate shoes.
“I invite residents from other areas of the Fifth District to join in all of these walks so that you can see the conditions of all neighborhoods,” Schipske said.