Lakewood City Schools has recently been awarded a $50,000 Safe Routes to School (SRTS) grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation. The grant will help expand opportunities for students to safely walk and bike to school while reinforcing the district’s goals of student safety, environmental awareness, and community engagement. According to the department, the grant is funded through ODOT’s statewide Safe Routes to School program.
The initiative provides resources, technical assistance and funding to encourage students in grades K–12 to use active transportation. Each year, $5 million is distributed across Ohio to support projects that fall into five categories: engineering, encouragement, education, enforcement and evaluation. Districts can apply for up to $1 million for infrastructure projects such as sidewalks or crosswalks, and up to $60,000 for non-infrastructure programs, including education, awareness and safety activities.
Lakewood High School principal Joy Morgan helped with the approval and process surrounding the grant. “It is really an elementary sort of initiative. We’re doing some of the signage outside that you’ve seen, like the ‘Think Global Walk Local,” Morgan said. She highlighted that the grant was aimed at younger students walking to and from school. However, she also emphasized the importance of students of all ages, especially high schoolers, being aware of their surroundings when driving, walking or biking. The signage throughout Lakewood serves as a reminder for drivers to stay alert around students.
“We’re hoping that when kids come to school, they feel safer and that people are more on the lookout. I know I am when I’m driving and I see the signs to be more mindful,” Morgan added.
For Lakewood, the $50,000 award will support several new and ongoing efforts aimed at making walking and biking to school safer and more appealing for students and their families. Assistant Superintendent Christine Palumbo, one of the administrators involved in securing the grant, said the funding aligns closely with Lakewood’s Vision of a Lakewood Ranger, specifically the competency of global awareness and citizenship. “Active transportation — walking or biking to school — is a great way to stay physically and emotionally healthy while building relationships with friends and neighbors,” Palumbo explained. “It’s also a reminder that our local choices can have a global impact.”
Safety remains at the heart of the district’s SRTS efforts. Palumbo noted that some visible results of the grant can already be seen around town. “The signs that say ‘Slow Down Rangers Around’ were funded through the grant,” she said. “They’re part of our effort to promote driver awareness and protect students on their way to and from school. What’s great is that these signs are available to everyone in the community, not just those connected to the schools.” In addition to safety messaging, the district has created a strong network of collaboration to guide the program’s success.
Members of the grant team meet regularly with Bike Lakewood, city officials, parents, the Lakewood Police Department and representatives from the Board of Education to plan events and discuss safety improvements. These conversations have helped shape initiatives that not only make travel safer but also foster community participation and student leadership.
The district’s grant-funded programs include several events throughout the year to promote active transportation. Two Hike & Bike Weeks, one in the fall and another in the spring, encourage students to walk or bike to school. A Winter Walk and a Spring Bike Rodeo provide opportunities to practice safe riding skills in fun, community-based settings. These activities are organized in partnership with the city of Lakewood and Bike Lakewood.
Lakewood’s Safe Routes to School efforts are built around the idea that every student should have access to safe transportation options. The district plans to use part of the grant to purchase additional bike racks for schools and to provide helmets and locks to students who need them. “All students in need, regardless of where they live, can receive a bike helmet and chain lock,” Palumbo said. “We want every student to have the resources they need to participate safely.” The district is also using the program to reinforce environmental stewardship among students through the “Think Global, Walk Local” campaign, encouraging families to recognize how everyday decisions — like choosing to walk or bike — can contribute to global sustainability and local community health.
Palumbo emphasized that the success of Lakewood’s Safe Routes to School initiative relies on strong partnerships between the district, families and the broader community. “Several members of our team meet regularly with Bike Lakewood, a City Council member, parents, and local law enforcement to discuss student safety and plan our Hike and Bike and Winter Walk events,” she said. “Those partnerships have been key to keeping the program strong and connected to real community needs.”
Ultimately, the district hopes that the grant will have a long-term impact not only on student safety but also on health, wellness and school culture. “It’s about teaching lifelong habits,” Palumbo added.
Through the Safe Routes to School grant, Lakewood City Schools is taking concrete steps toward building a safer, healthier, and more connected community — one that encourages students to think globally and move locally.
