Hollywood Elementary Wins Grant for New Sidewalks

Administrators for have been working with College Park for years to get new sidewalks, said.

That goal could finally be fulfilled with a $161,000 grant awarded to the school to promote pedestrian safety. Hollywood is one of 12 schools in the county to benefit from the state’s Safe Routes to School Program.

“The Prince George’s County Safe Routes to School Program’s goal is to enhance safety for those children who walk to and from school through the installation of sidewalks,” county Department of Public Works and Transportation Spokeswoman Susan Hubbard said in an email.

It was the first time that Prince George’s County submitted an application for the Maryland Highway Safety Office program, Hubbard said. The county received $1.2 million of the $3.2 million awarded throughout the state, according to the press release.

Hubbard believes the county’s application was successful because the schools chosen met the target criteria for the grant, and because there’s a need to enhance safety and health in the communities.

“The schools chosen also had a significant amount of identified infrastructure gaps that needed to be addressed,” Hubbard said.

The other schools in the county benefiting from the grant are Glenridge, Woodridge, Robert R. Gray, Oakcrest, Highland Park, Carrollton, Gladys Noon Spellmen and Thomas Stone elementary schools; Charles Carroll Middle Schools; Judith P. Hoyer Montessori; and St. Ambrose Catholic.

The award comes just in time for Walk to School Day on Oct. 5, an annual international event to promote walking and biking to school.