STREETZine
WINTER EDITION 2024
Offering financial opportunity to homeless and economically disadvantaged individuals. STREETZine is a program of The Stewpot and a member of International Network of Street Papers
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Making Dallas More Accessible By Wendy Rojo Hope is a powerful emotion because no matter how discouraged a person is or what they are going through, hope remains. Even when times seem tough or if you are stuck, hope is still there. The new year is the epitome of hope because we get a fresh start, and we can create new goals. As we start this new year, we should reflect on 2023 and create the intentions that we want the new year to bring. I want 2024 to bring more accessibility for all. I want everyone in Dallas to be able to truly enjoy Dallas. Savita, a participant in The Stewpot’s Writers’ Workshop, says she enjoys all the unique communities throughout Dallas. For example, we have Bishop Arts District that highlights small local shops and offers a variety of dining options. Many of our writers also emphasize that they enjoy living in a large city. However, we need to make Dallas a walkable city. If we were able to make the city more friendly to pedestrians, then we’d make the city feel smaller and more approachable. So many of us who are born and raised in Dallas have admittedly not explored the entirety of Dallas. Dallas has so many beautiful places and experiences to offer but so many of us have not taken advantage of everything it has to offer.
Artwork by Stewpot Artist Fernando Segovia. Of course, the city’s constant construction does make it hard to maneuver around Dallas. The construction suggests that we are a growing city, and that can bring many positives. But the cranes, trucks, and scaffolding can make it difficult to walk around safely. What’s more, many communities still do not have sidewalks. Creating a safe and walkable community starts by offering these simple solutions so at least people can move safely in their immediate communities.
We must also make downtown safer for pedestrians. Recently, we have heard about For instance, we have the DART system that pedestrians who were run over by drivers allows many of us to reach certain parts of who were speeding or did not follow driving the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Writers’ Workshop participants often talk about their use of signals. We need to prioritize pedestrians public transportation and the convenience of and create safer ways for people to navigate a large, but not perfect array of routes. (Catch- downtown. ing two or three buses and maybe a train to In addition, we need to keep providing servicreach a destination is common among our es for those who may be experiencing homewriters.) They emphasize how a good public transportation system is needed to get to job lessness in our city. For example, Writers’ interviews, medical appointments, or shelters Workshop participants related last summer how cooling stations are a necessity to their that provide services they may require. viability during a Texas summer. Currently,
the city is providing a warming shelter while the extreme weather passes. These services are much needed, but we should continue searching for ways to make this a safer city for people experiencing homelessness. There is still much work that is needed to create a safer, walkable Dallas. Luckily, we have initiatives throughout the city that want to build a more mobile city. For example, Southern Gateway is creating a five-acre urban greenery deck on top of I-35. The idea is to bridge together nearby communities and provide access to various amenities that are not easily accessible to those communities. Similar projects exist throughout Dallas that have proved successful at creating a sense of community. As we continue to develop a more accessible city for all, we have to challenge the norms and create change. May we make progress in 2024. Wendy Rojo is managing editor of STREETZine.