Fix It / What needs repairing around Buffalo Niagara
High weeds pose a danger on Tonawandas trail
It’s a picturesque route, a trail used on a regular basis by bikers, joggers and others as it winds its way through the City of Tonawanda along the canal and eventually spills out onto East Niagara Street.
The problem, according to one Fix It reader, is that cars coming down East Niagara from Niagara Falls Boulevard cannot see the riders coming off the path because of the high weeds — some as tall as 20 feet — that block the view.
“There is a dangerous situation where the City of Tonawanda path ends and enters the town bike path,” Bill Kling said in an e-mail.
“It is very dangerous for bikers, walkers, [in-line skaters] and joggers,” he said.
As in most cases we look into, the first thing we had to do was establish who was responsible for the landscaping.
That led us to the City of Tonawanda Parks and Recreation Department. While the director was unavailable Friday, Mayor Ronald Pilozzi’s office referred us to a department employee, who checked out the problem. The Parks Department employee wasn’t sure who was ultimately responsible for the area but said the city maintains it because of the bike path.
“Our short answer is we’re going to weed-whack five or 10 feet,” she said.
Although the area is close to private property, she said, the department would take care of it, “so it’s not a safety issue.”
Fix It has tackled everything from faulty roads to poor street lighting to broken public drinking fountains. Readers may submit potential items three ways: through regular mail by writing to Fix It, c/o The Buffalo News, One News Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14203; by e-mail at fixit@buffnews.com ; or by calling the Fix It voice mail line at 849-6026. Fix It considers every suggestion received but is not able to respond to everyone who sent them in.
