The City of Cheyenne and the Downtown Development Authority Help Make Cheyenne Walkable | Cheyenne

As Cheyenne grows, so does the maintenance of its sidewalks.

I’ve been talking to some city officials about a program to keep storefronts open.

Like that freshly paved sidewalk, the city and the Downtown Development Authority are using a program to ensure businesses in the downtown core remain pedestrian-friendly and safe.

“It’s good practice. We care about our neighbors and we care about their ability to get downtown,” said Cheyenne District 1 Councilman Pete Laybourne.

There are many maintenance and infrastructure issues in the historic downtown area.

In some areas, the sidewalks in front of some stores are 40 to 50 years old; Another issue is ADA compliance.

“We want them to be safe when they do this and we want to relieve property owners of liability, a very serious liability that comes with a damaged sidewalk that could cause an accident,” Laybourne said.

The city has developed a program together.

The city center administration, property owners and several city departments are represented.

In April, the DDA allocated $100,000 from a mill levy for grants.

This grant is then given to property owners with damaged sidewalks and helps cover half of the costs.

This work could include gutters and stamped and colored concrete, and prices vary.

“We meet with contractors or do a little drawing, but typically we meet the contractors there and get a quote for each individual site,” said Doug Klahn, city construction manager.

Officials say this is all to make Cheyenne safe and walkable.

“The city center is growing. There’s a lot more foot traffic, a lot more people walking and more businesses, and it’s just going to continue to grow,” said Charles Bloom, director of development and planning for the city of Cheyenne.

This grant project has been ongoing since 2018 and work continues throughout the downtown area.

Further information about the program can be found here.

The City of Cheyenne and the Downtown Development Authority are using a mill levy grant to repair damaged sidewalks.