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Published Friday, May 18, 2001, in the Contra Costa Newspapers
Merriewood step-by-step success story
By Charles Anthony STAFF WRITER
The city's Public Works Agency is putting the "merry" back
into
"Merriewood."
The lower section of the Merriewood stairs have been receiving attention
from maintenance crews, who also installed a completely new top section.
These stairs, which run in two sections, from Thornhill Drive to Marden
Lane
and then to Merriewood Drive, will be outfitted with new hand rails and
an
asphalt landing at the bottom of the new stairs.
"I'm very pleased staff was able to work this into their regular
schedules
and get this done," said Councilman Dick Spees.
These steps are now usable for residents, who worked hard to focus city
dollars on the rickety stairs which had missing steps, grass overgrowing
the
treads and exposed rusted nails. They began pushing the city to make the
repairs last year, with a petition drive and a community Web site.
The site, maintained by Montclair resident Kirk van Druten, states "There
are no sidewalks to use as an option to dodging cars on the narrow and
winding neighborhood streets." The repaired stairs provide a safe
alternative to walking on the streets.
"Usually when you deal with a bureaucracy you expect a long haul,"
said van
Druten, "but I've been impressed with this response. The fact that
the
stairs are extremely dangerous and a massive liability helps."
The upper section is next to be repaired. These stairs, up the road
a bit,
are in four sections and begin at the Thornhill/Merriewood intersection.
From there they climb to Doncaster Place, to Valley View Road, to Merriewood
again (which circles back in a horseshoe shape) and end at Abbott Drive.
These stairs were recently cleaned in preparation for field survey and
engineering crews.
"The upper Merriewood stairs will remain closed because they are
unsafe,"
said Claudette Ford, director of Public Works.
Yet the repairs shouldn't take long. Spees said they should be completed
by
this fall.
Due to residents' inquiries, Public Works will investigate the cost of
using recycled, composite or renewable resource lumber for the repairs.
Monies for the Merriewood stairs repairs were already earmarked in the
city
budget.
In December of 2000, the Merriewood stairs were placed on a City Council
"Top 10" list of most dilapidated stairways and walkways in
Oakland. There
are 75 such stairways in the city.
The Oakmore stairs, which have been cleaned, are next in line for repair
in
the fall. Similarly, their repair has already been funded within the city
budget.
For more information, visit the community Web site at:
www.lansharks.net/stairs
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