Is our park so beautiful that it’s worth risking your life to get there?
On our walks, my wife and I often feel like we’re dodging death, especially near Lakeside Park, where children play, seniors stroll, and people using walkers or mobility scooters seek a moment of freedom. The problem? Crossing Cull, Queen, or Herrington to reach the park is a gamble due to speeding drivers, faded crosswalks, and poor visibility.
Fast Road + Blind Curve + Weak Crosswalk = Dangerous Crossing
Drivers often speed along Cull Drive, a long, wide road with no street trees to slow them down. The crosswalk on Queen is barely visible—its two thin lines are faded, and tree shadows make them even harder to spot. There’s no sign warning drivers of the crosswalk, and a blind curve on Queen gives eastbound drivers little time to react.
Meanwhile, at least 1,500 residents from the Banar and James subdivisions, plus homes north on Queen, must cross these roads to reach the park. We’ve seen too many roadkills on Cull to ignore the risk to human lives.
Why It’s Urgent
Based on national pedestrian accident rates, we could expect a collision every 10 months in the Cull-Queen corridor. But with high speeds, a blind curve, and inadequate crosswalks, an accident could happen much sooner. Parks are vital for our community’s mental and physical health, and everyone deserves safe access to this sanctuary.
Solutions
Here’s how we can make Lakeside Park’s crossings safer:
Designate a Community Safety Zone
Lower speed limits, increase fines, and add traffic calming measures around the park, as Leamington has done successfully for its waterfront.
Install Raised Pedestrian Crossings
Replace flat crosswalks with elevated tables to force drivers to slow down and improve visibility.
Add a Crosswalk at Cull and Woodlawn
Many pedestrians cross here for better visibility. Formalizing this crossing would enhance safety and signal to Eastbound drivers to slow down as they head into the curve.
Quick Fixes
Upgrade to Zebra Crossings
Replace faded lines with bold, highly visible zebra patterns at all park crossings.
Add Clear Signage
Install “Yield: Pedestrian Crosswalk” signs at each crossing to alert drivers, as the current “children at play” signs are too vague.
Be Part of the Solution
Strong Towns Kingsville is ready to act. We’ll fund and paint zebra crossings ourselves, with no cost to municipal taxpayers, and we’d welcome the Town Administration’s support.
We’re also tackling tripping hazards by removing weeds from the multi-use path’s cracks, using an eco-friendly vinegar solution. Join us this month to help—reply below or email us at info@kingsvillestrong.com!
Cull Drive’s design encourages highway speeds, not the safe, small-town pace we need. A driver’s license is a privilege, not a right to speed through our community in a 6,000-pound vehicle. Let’s work together to prevent a tragedy and ensure Lakeside Park is accessible to all.
Thanks for your support,
Chad Nantais
Local Leader — Strong Towns Kingsville
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