Safety is an
issue on Lee St.

Whiteville City Council did not take action Tuesday night to close Lee Street near Kramer Field on Saturday mornings during youth soccer games, which once again begs the question concerning the safety of small children and their families crossing the busy street.

Since the city did not choose to close the street and the police department is unable to provide staffing to direct traffic, something must be done to slow traffic.

Most children and their parents and relatives park in the BB&T parking lots across Lee Street. Without this parking, the field would be unusable.

Since traffic will be allowed to continue on Lee Street, the most reasonable measure is to slow it down. We suggest that traffic barrels be placed along the center line of Lee Street from Webster to Columbus streets and a temporary speed limit of 20 or 25 miles per hour be posted at both ends.

Both the barrels and reduced speed limit would work to slow traffic. The police department could run occasional radar stops to get drivers’ attentions.

The same should be done for Tram Road at the Columbus Regional Healthcare soccer field, where other soccer matches are held and children regularly cross the road to buy drinks at the IGA.

Long-term, other soccer facilities need to be constructed in safer, less-traveled areas. Soccer is the only sport where children literally put their lives on the line to get to a playing field every Saturday. That’s ridiculous.

The Whiteville Optimist-Columbus County Parks and Rec soccer league has seen a 20 percent increase in participation this year over last year, and with soccer now being offered in all county middle schools this year and high schools the following year, youth soccer is going to continue to grow.

The children deserve to have a safe place to play.