Duncan Chapel Provides Safe Route to School
Hundreds of students and their families turned out for Duncan Chapel Elementary’s Walk to School Day to celebrate the completion of a Safe Routes to School grant project and to honor the late Dan Powell, who spearheaded the grant that now provides a sidewalk on Buncombe Road between Publix and the school.
“Today is the culmination of four years of hard work from members of our community and state and local officials. This walk is to celebrate the accomplishments of one of our parents, Dan Powell, who led the way with our Safe Routes to School grant,” said Dr. Stephanie Lowry, principal of Duncan Chapel Elementary. “Dan’s dream was to provide a safe route to school for our students, but he did not live to see it come to fruition.” Mr. Powell, a health-conscious non-smoker, died in 2015 from lung cancer. His wife Rebecca, son Davis, and Dan’s parents were in attendance.
“We have sidewalks, crosswalks, and a three-way stop that make it safer for students to walk to school,” said Dr. Lowry. “It is the direct result of efforts by parents, district administrators, our community, and Councilman Willis Meadows. We appreciate what the Duncan Chapel Fire Department does for us to allow us to walk to school.”
The group also held a ribbon-cutting to signify the completion of a new playground, which became a reality because of the hard work of the school’s PTA.
