Walking to places a thing of the past

Monday, January 31, 2005
By Chris Rankin
Is the automobile more popular, or more required? You used to be able to walk almost anywhere you needed to go.

Thirty years ago, you could still walk to a grocery store from almost anywhere in town. Icenogle's, "Little" My Store, Eisner's, Save-A-Lot, IGA Dewitt, and South Side IGA are all now gone. You are now required to drive to the store.

Twenty-five years ago, you could walk to see a doctor. The Link Clinic building was where most doctors had offices. There were offices in the 1800 block of Broadway in the old Clarke Theater for a while. We used to joke about a friend, whom's mother walked to Memorial Hospital when he was born. Now you must drive out to Sarah Bush, Carle Clinic or the Family Medical Center.

Ten years ago, you could walk to see a movie. The Time Theater and Kerasotes Theaters entertained hundreds with five screens. Now you must drive to the Showplace 10 if you want to catch a film.

Five years ago, you could walk to school. Neighborhood schools dotted the city with convenience to students and parents alike. Now the entire town is consolidated into two schools on the city's perimeter. It's a long walk from Dewitt to South Ninth Street.

Now that it is mandatory to drive to almost all destinations, it is less likely you will make secondary stops. We would always stop at the neighborhood stores when walking home from school. Kind of ironic they are both gone.

When walking home from the movies, we almost always stopped at Burger King or Dairy Queen for ice cream. Now once you're behind the wheel of the vehicle, you're not stopping until you get home. Foot traffic to these places must have dropped when the new theaters were built.

One of the few places you can still walk to is the YMCA. It serves as an anchor to the downtown area. Kids can walk there after school or on the weekends. The most ambitious jog or walk there for as a warm up to a workout. Moving the YMCA east of town would be another nail in the coffin for downtown Mattoon.

If Sarah Bush wants to help the YMCA, they should assist them in upgrading their current location, where it is most convenient. The addition of SBLHC's wellness center to the YMCA would bring more people to the area and could be a boost to other business in the area. Building at the hospital complex would do nothing to help the local economy.

There is ample parking within walking distance of the existing YMCA. The thought that you need 300 parking spaces in front of a facility to serve that facility is flawed. There are over 2250 parking spaces in midtown Mattoon. I am sure that is plenty more then is required for present and future YMCA needs. There would be a need for more parking at a remote location since you will be required to drive.

The community would be best served if the YMCA stays at its current location. There is plenty of room around the existing grounds for expansion. Any improvement in facilities at a new location will be more than offset by the damage done to the core city. We do not need another empty building in the heart of town. You should not be required to have a vehicle to go to the YMCA.