Free sand in high demand as residents grapple with slippery Edmonton sidewalks
CBC
Community sandboxes are going empty as the City of Edmonton struggles to keep up with high demand for sidewalk sand.
Several days of freezing rain, coupled with temperatures hovering near 0 C, have led to treacherous conditions on sidewalks and pathways.
Alberta Health Services responded to 103 emergency calls for slips and falls in the Edmonton zone on Wednesday alone.
City residents are responsible for maintaining sidewalks in front of their homes, and many rely on the free sand provided by the city — when they can get it.
"We understand that residents are encountering empty community sandboxes," Philip Herritt, director of infrastructure operations with the city's parks and roads department, told CBC News on Thursday.
"There are over 700 sandboxes in the city," Herritt said in an email.
"Crews are working on priority items and filling them when possible."
Crews are also using available sand on sidewalks, active pathways and roads that the city maintains, he said.
Messages on the city's 311 app and on social media confirm many of the boxes are empty, an issue the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues has also been hearing about.
Executive director Laura Cunningham-Shpeley said it's a big concern, and something she herself has experienced.
"I think we are hearing that leagues are really wanting to make sure that their sandboxes are filled up," Cunningham-Shpeley said.
"I know personally we had to go around and run around to a few different leagues to find sand last week."
The city needs to make providing the sand a bigger priority, she said.
"I would imagine the focus has been on the roadways, and I would just say that we need to remember that so many folks do rely on just walking around.
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