PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Parents in Seminole say they need a crosswalk in their neighborhood to keep children safe.

What You Need To Know

  • Parents on Ridge Road in Seminole say they need a crosswalk for safety

  • They say there used to be one there, but it was removed when Pinellas County did some drainage work

  • Parents worry about speeders as families try to get across the street without a crosswalk

  • Pinellas County officials say a study is needed to determine whether one is needed

As it turns out, there used to be one.

The concern is on Ridge Road between Park Boulevard and 74th Avenue North in Seminole, right by Seminole City Park.

Neighbors said it’s become a cut-through street between Park and 113th Street that leads to drivers speeding through the neighborhood.

“There used to be a crosswalk here,” parent Natalie White said. “It went right across my driveway to the other sidewalk across the street.”

White said Pinellas County did some drainage work in the area a few years ago. She’s grateful for that work but said the crosswalk and sign that was there were removed and never replaced.

Since the crosswalk disappeared, she said drivers have no reason to slow down.

“The speed limit is 25 (mph) when you get to my mailbox,” White said. “But going around this corner is 20. People don’t do that. They speed. They don’t stop.”

White said she has tried to reach local officials about this but has had no luck getting an answer.

Spectrum Bay News 9 reached out to Pinellas County. The transportation division responded with a statement that said, “The City of Seminole referred this request to us, and we are working with them on the study to determine if a crossing is needed and if so, where it should go. The current location connects to a residential driveway on one side, which is not something we would typically do, so there is some research and study that needs to be done.”

White worries for the safety of her son and other children in the neighborhood while she waits for an answer.

“I’m afraid that it’s going to be my child,” White said. “It’s going to be my son. I don’t want that for anybody’s child. Something’s going to happen that won’t be good.”