KFOR found where the sidewalk ends…

10:54 AM EDT on September 11, 2015

There is a place where the sidewalk ends, and before the street begins, and there the grass grows soft and white, and the the sound burns crimson bright, and there the moon-bird rests from his flight to cool in the peppermint wind and watch a KFOR report complaining all about it.

Earlier this week, KFOR unleashed a hardcore investigative report into a mysterious sidewalk that appeared in south Oklahoma City, because you know, too many sidewalks in town is a bad thing.

Here's the report from KFOR's Sarah Stewart:

Some are calling it the sidewalk to nowhere.
The new sidewalk is on South Council and stretches from S.W. 15th to S.W. 29th.
It’s a largely industrial area with several wide open fields.
The old Bridgestone/Firestone plant used to be out there.
“Just a waste of money. The money could’ve been better spent in other places,” said Charlie Hutson.
Hutson drives the area frequently and says he knew South Council was being re-paved, but he couldn’t believe it when he saw the concrete strip by the road.
“I’m all for sidewalks and for the capital improvements, but let’s use our heads and think. Let’s put it where it’s really needed,” said Hutson.

Come on KFOR, you're really going to complain about an "alleged" sidewalk to nowhere? OKC has many problems. Wasteful, irresponsible construction of sidewalks is not one of them. Regardless of where they are, or how much sense they make, we should just be happy they are actually building them. What are you going to report about next? Too many trees and parks in a local neighborhood?

Also, how did Sarah Stewart not reference "Where The Sidewalk Ends" in her report. I did it. It's pretty easy. Maybe there's no light on in her attic, or worse yet, she was the kid in elementary school who read "The New Kid on the Block."

Anyway, some person from Oklahoma City has an explanation:

“That helps us with connectivity, walk-ability, you know, kind of the active lifestyles; to help make all those places eventually connect. Well, you have to start somewhere,” said Shannon Cox with Oklahoma City Public Works.
Cox says this is all part of the 2007 bond issue where Oklahoma City residents voted to put $500 million towards our streets...
She says any road that is re-paved or widened as part of that bond gets a sidewalk, no matter where it is.
“That is why, you know, we do have to do sidewalks in areas that may not seem the right place. But you know, we prepare for the what is to come.”

Wow, that actually seems like a smart and cost efficient way to do things. I wish some "irresponsible" city planner would have gone all cavalier back in the 1950s and placed sidewalks throughout NW Oklahoma City when it was still in the boondocks. Maybe then I could walk to the liquor store without having to worry about being struck by a car.

Patrick @okcpatrick

Patrick is the founder, editor and publisher of The Lost Ogle.