| Ceasar Mitchell and PATH Foundation Dedicate Trail Crystal Sykes |
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A T L A N T A C I T Y C O U N C I L
RELEASE DATE: October 25, 2009 MEDIA CONTACT Strickland Communications Co.
Councilmember Ceasar Mitchell and PATH Foundation Dedicate Trail in Memory of 10-year-old Southwest Atlanta Girl ATLANTA - An unpaved city street has been converted into a walking trail in memory of 10-year-old Crystal Sykes who died due to injuries she received when riding her bicycle on the rocky road in July 1997. Crystal was riding her bike with her then eight-year-old brother on Cahaba Drive in southwest Atlanta on July 7, 1997 when she hit a hole causing her bike's handlebar to strike her stomach, puncturing her liver. She died July 8 following surgery and just days before her 11th birthday. For nearly eight years, Atlanta City Councilmember Ceasar C. Mitchell has led the charge to address the community's concerns for the safety of the unpaved city street. Cahaba Drive, near John A. White Park, is one of dozens of city streets that are unpaved by the city of Atlanta and not eligible for road improvements. However in a unique public-private partnership, Councilmember Mitchell secured private support from the PATH Foundation and provided $18,000 from his Post 1 City Council account to clear the road, remove trees, perform paving, create a memorial and transform the road into a walking trail. "This effort demonstrates the power of persistence and the promise of public-private partnerships. This family and surrounding community deserve the closure that this walking trail represents," Councilmember Mitchell said. "This shortcut is now a clean, green, safe and well-lit walking trail for neighbors to use. It is also a beautiful memorial to little Crystal who was innocently riding her bike with this tragedy occurred." On Sunday, October 25 at 2pm, Councilmember Mitchell, the Sykes family, the PATH Foundation and neighbors from the Westridge-Sandtown communities gathered on Cahaba Drive to dedicate the 560 linear foot road as the Cahaba Walking Trail in memory of Crystal. "I am glad to finally see this coming to fruition after so much pushing from the community. I wish it had been done before now, because it may have saved a few heartaches," said Theresa Sykes. "I'm grateful for Councilman Mitchell for seeing it through. It is a beautiful way to honor my daughter's memory." The approximately one-quarter mile, unpaved portion of Cahaba Drive was, for years, a shortcut to Venetian Hills Elementary school and a connection through the Venetian Hills/Westridge/Sandtown Road neighborhoods. Residents had asked the city of Atlanta for 20 years to pave the road because of the illegal activities and the dangers it posed to pedestrians and vehicle traffic. Councilmember Mitchell worked with the Department of Public Works to install barriers at the street's entrance points to block vehicular traffic and illegal dumping in 2005; however, while the neighbors continued to use it as a walking shortcut, they wanted to see the road permanently closed.
"This is a good thing," said Rudolph Bailey, president, Westridge-Sandtown Road Community Association. "This is an improvement to the community and will help in our efforts to cut down on some of the unwanted activities and traffic around that area." Mr. Bailey, a local minister, blessed the walking trail at the dedication ceremony. The Westridge-Sandtown Road Community Association has adopted the walking trail, and members will maintain it. "Neighbors now have a safe and dedicated walking path to travel through the neighborhood, and we are proud to have worked closely with Councilmember Mitchell and Neighborhood Planning Unit "S" leaders to create this memorial trail," said Pete V. Pellegrini, project manager, PATH Foundation. The bike accident occurred just yards away from the backyard of neighbor Carrie Moran Grimes' home. She tended to Crystal while her brother Cedric went home for help. "When this tragedy happened, I was in my kitchen, and I heard someone calling my name and screaming, 'call 9-1-1'. I'm glad I was there to help," said Mrs. Grimes. "This new path really supports our community's efforts to clean up the neighborhood and make it safe. All kinds of illegal activities used to happen here and lots of debris was dumped along this road. All that has been stopped." Crystal Sykes had just completed fifth grade at Mary Lin Elementary School. She was a girl scout and an Atlanta Falcons Junior Cheerleader. ------- Related Links:
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