photo by: Austin Hornbostel/Journal-World

A crossing guard helps students and their families safely cross the street at the intersection of 19th and Vermont streets outside Cordley Elementary School following the first day of the new school year Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.

The City of Lawrence announced in a news release Friday that it is seeking public recommendations for adult crossing guard locations for the 2024-2025 school year.

The request is part of the city’s Safe Routes to School program. Per the release, all requests for crossings will be reviewed by a Safe Routes to School work group. After evaluating those locations, the group will then review the results and recommend crossing guard placements.

New crossing guard locations can be requested via an online comment form.

In addition to reviewing and evaluating public crossing guard requests, the city also conducts regular evaluations of its existing crossing guard locations at least once every five years to ensure they meet a need. According to the release, requested locations that have been evaluated in the previous five years won’t be reevaluated unless the “built environment has changed or specific concerns have developed between the five-year evaluation cycles.” Those locations, along with current crossings, are reflected on a map included with the crossing guard request form.

Most recently, the city eliminated seven pilot crossing guard locations due to low usage on routes including Iowa Street and Clinton Parkway, Sixth Street and Folks Road and 23rd and Louisiana streets.

“The City of Lawrence remains unwavering in its commitment to ensuring safe routes for our young people,” the release reads. “Together, we will continue to evolve and adapt, prioritizing the safety and well-being of our community’s children.”