Path to Revitalize Mills and Laurel Relationship

by Kim Harris

Mills College is anticipating improvements to the connection with its surrounding communities. The Mills-MacArthur Gateway Project, also known as the Neighborhood Corridor project, received a grant from CalTrans to create a pedestrian and bike path that would run from Mills to the Laurel district and would include beautification of the intersection just outside the main entrance to the Mills College campus.'

Claire Antonetti, working with the Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council in conjunction with city officials, said she envisioned a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly link between communities and the Laurel District.

The project developed even more when Mills was included in the plans. Antonetti acknowledged the great support for the project at Mills.'

"I'm delighted that we are all on the same page," said Antonetti.

Vice Provost at Mills, Andy Workman, said Alysha Nachtigall's public policy senior thesis on the issue "played an important role in writing the grant."

Nachtigall's thesis, part of an internship with Jean Quan, examined the best options for improving Mills' access to the Laurel district and Millsmont for Mills students and faculty.'

"I looked at different aspects of the area," said Nachtigall. "I looked at land use, geography, and different political boundaries that exist, because the area includes different City Council districts."

Nachtigall said she looked closely at details, including the various types of bicycle use, the classes of bike lanes, and "who in the area would be using these bike and pedestrian paths."

"What got us the grant essentially was the policy analysis that Alysha did to sort of survey the project," said Antonetti. "The city was very impressed with her work."

Nachtigall also helped conduct the survey by The Blight and Beautification Neighborhood Action Team to get feedback from the community. They received around 600 responses, which made it clear that people were in favor of the improvements and expressed the needs and concerns of the residents and community members about the project. With the support of these responses and many others, CalTrans granted a total of $257,000 to the project. Jean Quan also provided $64,000 for feasibility studies to come up with the initial design.'

Mills students agree that they would travel off campus more often if there was a path to the Laurel District.

"I think it is a good idea," said sophomore Seham Afaghani. "It gives you a reason to go [to the Laurel District] because it's easy."'

Antonetti confessed that she only took the walk underneath I-580 a couple of times, and she didn't want to do it again. The point of the project would be to make the I-580 corridor more pedestrian and bike friendly.'

"It's important for people to be able to get out of their cars and walk safely," she said.

Also included in the plans are bike paths and walking paths on the Mills side, which do not currently exist, and a "pocket park" for visual relief in the I-580 corridor.

As to the importance of this new project, Antonetti asked "Why wouldn't we want [the community] more beautified?"

Kim Harris is a senior at Mills College. She is working towards her bachelor's degree in English with an emphasis in creative writing, and journalism minor. She works part-time as Direct Support Staff for adults with developmental disabilities.