Missing links: Board votes to end sidewalk gaps on Grand Island Boulevard

By Karen Carr Keefe

Senior Contributing Writer

Pedestrians face a gap-toothed sidewalk system along a half-mile stretch of Grand Island Boulevard.

From Burger King to Chateau Motor Lodge, some businesses have sidewalks; others don’t.

The Town Board voted Monday to force businesses to fill those gaps or pay the town to do it.

Council member Jose Garcia cited the need for safety and public access in his resolution requiring businesses to install and connect sidewalks along that section of the Boulevard.

The corridor, between 1700 and 1810 Grand Island Blvd., “lacks continuous sidewalk infrastructure, creating hazardous conditions for pedestrians,” the resolution said.

Property owners within that strip who don’t have sidewalks will be required to install, construct or connect sidewalks along their frontage.

If businesses don’t comply within the town’s specified time frame, the town may undertake the work and charge the respective property owners, according to the newly passed resolution.

Some new businesses have recently constructed sidewalks along that half-mile strip, but among the established businesses, there’s no uniformity.

Former Town Board candidate Wayne West asked the board, “How did we come up with those numbers? Of the 123 locations on Grand Island Boulevard, how did we narrow it down (to addresses between 1700 and 1810)?”

Deputy Supervisor Tom Digati answered, “It's because Burger King has a portion of a path. Then there are now two (new businesses), the car wash and the new building … that had to put new sidewalks in, that now go nowhere. And we stopped at the motel because, when you get to the motel, there’s acres and acres of vacant land. So, that’s why we stopped there.”

West replied, “Most of Grand Island Boulevard does not have sidewalks. The code does not say that it’s the responsibility of the owner to place in sidewalks. So, I'm just kind of curious as how we picked that particular section.”

It takes about a minute to drive that length of the Boulevard and about 6 minutes to walk it, according to Google Maps.

Included between the two end points are: Certified AutoBrokers, the plaza fronted by Eggsquisite Eats, Taco Bell, The Pacquin, One Stop Car Wash, Wheelfind Automobile Repair & Towing, Century 21 Northeast, Wavelengths Hair Design, Island Aesthetics, the Art of Dog and Grand Island Physical Therapy.

In other action, the Town Board:

•Awarded a bid to Grand Island Great Scape to furnish equipment and operators for grass cutting and related landscaping services and cleanup for various vacant and unmaintained privately owned properties. This is in coordination with the property maintenance law enacted by the town in July 2025. The law’s intent is to ensure that residents maintain their property in a safe and sanitary manner or face code violations. The enforcement provision of the law gives the town the authority to clean up the property and charge the expense to the property owner.

Residents brought up other concerns and suggestions during the public comment sections of the Town Board meeting.

•John Chinn said he believes the town’s stormwater management plan doesn’t adequately deal with the problem of flooding on Grand Island.

“I was very surprised to learn that the word ‘flood’ was only found once in the entire document,” he said. “And I thought, usually I associate stormwater, also, occasionally with floods. But it seems like on the public comment form, and the document itself, in general is that it says its focus is on public education and on pollution. But it doesn't seem to have any focus or emphasis on floods, which seems to be a rather common occurrence on this island. I wonder why that’s not really part of the plan.”

•Bill Daniels’13-year-old granddaughter was killed Sept. 11, 2024, while crossing the street at the intersection of Broadway and South State Parkway, near Kaegebein School. Daniels asked the Town Board to request the state to do a study of that intersection.

“I've been dealing with the New York State Department for Transportation for over a year, and getting nowhere with them,” he said. “I would like, very humbly, to request that this Town Board have a resolution for a (highway) traffic design study (by) the state Department of Transportation. The design study could include a roundabout. It could include narrowing (South State Parkway) from five or six lanes down to one each way.”

He added that, “There was petition of close to 2,500 people asking for a four-way stop there.”

Pickleball celebrated on Grand Island

The Town Board, at its meeting on Monday, issued a proclamation declaring Wednesday, April 23, as Grand Island Pickleball Day.

Pickleball Island, at 401 Lang Blvd., is the largest indoor dedicated pickleball facility in New York state. Owner/Operator Ken Knight said, “Pickleball is officially the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. for the fifth consecutive year, boasting more than 25 million players in 2025.”

He said the sport is popular with older adults, but the 25 to 35 age group is now the largest segment.

Knight founded Pickleball Island in 2017, starting with three courts. The facility, open seven days a week, now has 10 courts, with 2,500 players each month.

Shown in the photo, from left, are Council member Rhonda Diehl; Deputy Town Supervisor Tom Digati; Knight and his business partner, Dave Miller; and Council members Jose Garcia and Dan Kilmer. (Photo by Karen Carr Keefe)