Metroparks Supports City's SOM Center Horse Crossing Plan

The Cleveland Metroparks said they would support Solon's idea to create flashing signals at a popular horse and pedestrian crossing near the entrance to the South Chagrin Reservation.

The safety committee will continue discussions of the horse crossing at its meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at .

Since a number of horse-riding enthusiasts told Solon's safety committee in August they were , city officials have been to improve the perceived safety of the crossing. Residents say that drivers are too distracted and driving too fast

Riders have said they wanted a traffic light, but Traffic Engineer Kevin Westbooks said the intersection doesn't warrant a light.

Instead, Westbrooks came up with the idea of creating a series of flashing lights that would be activated by a rider or walker so that cars driving up and down SOM Center would be alerted that someone was using the crosswalk.

That solution would cost an .

Westbrooks approached the Metroparks for feedback, since the trails run into the South Chagrin Reservation.

In an e-mail to Westbrooks, Chief of Park Planning Patty Stevens said the Metroparks supports the city's options for the crossings.

Check back to Solon Patch for more on this story after tonight's meeting.