Davenport Street Sidewalk Project

09/16/2022

We have a solution! It’s not perfect, and it’s not the solution we envisioned initially, but it will give more than a hundred households in Rhinelander a much safer way to access the rest of their city by foot or by bike.

The city plans to construct a path between the dead-end on Westhill Road and the corner of Phillip and Lois streets (see red line on map). This will allow children, families, and all residents in this neighborhood to bypass (busy, dangerous) Davenport Street and instead use Phillip Street to access playgrounds, parks, and the rest of the city. Phillip Street is much less busy, is much wider, and is mostly served by sidewalks!

Mayor Hanus has told me the city plans to complete this connection this fall or next spring, at the latest.

I still ultimately support a sidewalk or path along Davenport Street and will continue to advocating for one. It’s the best way to ensure access for all. However, this immediate solution promises to make access on foot and bike safer for our families in a much more timely fashion.

Thanks to those who have supported – and continue to support – our efforts to make Rhinelander a safer, more walkable, more bikeable place!

07/22/2022

Rhys and I were out in the neighborhood again this evening, knocking on doors and collecting petition signatures from people who support our advocacy. Thank you to the dozens of people who have signed already! We all want the same thing - safe access to our city!

07/13/2022

Thank you Mayor Kris Hanus, City Administrator Zach Vruwink, and City Attorney Steve Sorenson for meeting with me yesterday to discuss safe access for west side Rhinelander residents. I'm optimistic that the city has some good ideas to serve its constituents on this subject! Stay tuned!

07/04/2022

Happy Independence Day!

We love the Rhinelander parade and are fortunate to live in the city, so we are within walking distance of our favorite viewing spot.

Having a sidewalk instead of dodging traffic on Davenport Street would have made it a perfect day!

06/15/2022

A few years ago, this path was built along Highway 8 in Crandon. It allows for safe pedestrian and bike passage from town to the school complex. How great would it be to have something like it along Davenport Street?

06/08/2022

Check out the story on the sidewalk project that aired yesterday on WJFW Newswatch 12. The video is pretty accurate - you'll notice that semi-trucks using Davenport Street is a common occurrence!

Rhinelander, Wis. (WJFW) - Sidewalks provide many benefits including safety, mobility, and healthier communities. However, there are some areas that don’t have sidewalks at all.

06/04/2022

Glad to see our project made the front page of this week's Star Journal newspaper! Here's the story, in case you missed it. We appreciate the opportunity to spread the word about safe streets and safe access in Rhinelander.

By Eileen PersikeEditor A west side resident addressed the Rhinelander City Council last week to plant a seed that he hopes will grow to become a sidewalk. Ben Meyer, with his son Rhys on West Davenport Street Ben Meyer and his family live in a neighborhood off Davenport Street, near Hwy 47

05/29/2022

Our cause is being discussed by elected offcials - we're gaining traction! The Crescent Town Board opened broader annexation discussions on Wednesday night (with Davenport Street as a motivating factor). The Davenport Street issue was also discussed at the City of Rhinelander Bike-Pedestrian Committee meeting on Thursday. Thank you, elected officials, for being willing to consider this topic. Stay tuned - if you live on the west side of Rhinelander, I may be knocking on your door soon to ask for a petition signature!
-Ben Meyer

05/24/2022

Thank you, City of Rhinelander Common Council, for listening to my public comment at your meeting tonight. I was pleased to be able to present you with our new advocacy brochure (attached here). You can expect to keep hearing from me and other advocates until a sidewalk is built! -Ben Meyer

05/21/2022

Here's one goofy reason there's no sidewalk along much of Davenport Street: it's not technically in the City of Rhinelander! It remains under the jurisdiction of the Town of Crescent as a town road (see map). It appears the best way to achieve a sidewalk is to have the city annex this portion and go to work improving its infrastructure.

Thank you, Crescent Town Board Chair Joel Knutson, for your support of this plan!

05/19/2022

Davenport Street is not a lightly traveled road. Yesterday, my son Rhys and I set up shop at Davenport and Westhill and counted as 160 vehicles passed in one hour.