During a recent walk of the neighborhood, we spent a lot of time ducking low-hanging branches and dodging shrubbery that nearly swallowed the adjoining sidewalk. It was a frustrating experience.
Then… this balm appeared.
The landscapers at 4600 Connecticut Avenue had precisely trimmed these bushes so they were aligned with the sidewalk’s edge. The crew also worked its magic along the condo’s narrower Brandywine and Chesapeake Street sidewalks. While it may have been for aesthetic reasons, the landscapers performed a great service for the larger community.
Errant branches and encroaching bushes are more than an annoyance. To those with visual and mobility impairments, obstructed sidewalks are an accessibility barrier and a hazard. So we ask that property owners be mindful, and consider this an opportunity to be more neighborly.
RS says
I’ve started carrying a pair of Fiskers shears with me on my walks in Checy Chase and will trim bushes and hedges that overhang the sidewalk. If the neighbors are too lazy to do it themselves, I’m going to take matters into my own hands.