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Where the Sidewalk Ends - East Side: Equity & Expense

Writer's picture: Stacey BrownStacey Brown

When comparing the two middle school locations, Rundlett and Broken Ground, equity and expense were two of the prominent reasons School Board members gave for selecting the Broken Ground site, citing reduced costs and the benefit to students on the Heights. What would it be like for students walking or biking from the Heights to the East Side?


There is only one direct road to the East Side from the Heights, but it requires students to pass by on and off ramps to I-393 and cross the bridge above it.


East Side Drive, which starts at Loudon Road on the Heights, has a sidewalk on both sides until it crosses Hazen Drive, then there is only one on the western side.



The first of two crosswalks to nowhere. This crosswalk connects West Sugar Ball and East Sugar Ball roads, but there are no sidewalks on either road, or on the other side of East Side Drive.


The second crosswalk to nowhere connects a path from Havenwood-Heritage Heights to Broken Ground Drive. Again, no sidewalks on that road, or on the other side of East Side Drive.


Havenwood-Heritage Heights is an assisted living facility that extends a half mile along East Side Drive, consists of 52 separate buildings and signs at the entrances indicating it is private property.


Crosswalk to Portsmouth Street sidewalk with a School Walking sign and reduced speed sign. Portsmouth Street only has one sidewalk running along the north side.


The most recent schematic design for the proposed $136-$166 million middle school shows a two-lane driveway designated for parent pick up and drop off coming in from Portsmouth Street at the south. It will extend at least a quarter mile and include a parking lot. The existing N. Curtisville Road is in the bottom left corner of this picture. Buses for pick up and drop off will enter the site from S. Curtisville Road to the east.



This is the forest off Portsmouth Street proposed to become a driveway for parent pick up and drop off.


The orange tape below identifies the land to be cleared for a parking lot.






Below is the intersection of the green and red Batchelder Mill trails and the approximate location for the entrance for the proposed middle school, which is projected to be 217,000 sq ft and accommodate 900 students, though only 765 are enrolled with further decline in numbers expected.

The Batchelder Mill green trail at S. Curtisville Road is one of only two wheelchair-accessible trails in Concord out of 30. It is projected to become the driveway for buses.

The sidewalk for S. Curtisville Road starts at the Batchelder Mill trailhead and is on only one side of the road. The crosswalk to Dominique Drive has a Safe Routes sign and multiple Rescind the Vote signs on neighboring lawns. Dominique has a sidewalk on only one side.


The crosswalk from S. Curtisville leads back to East Side Drive, facing the new construction at Havenwood-Heritage Heights. Any new development is required to construct a sidewalk, per Concord's site plan regulations. However, per RSA 674:54 schools are exempt from these regulations, including adding costly sidewalks.



Students will see this view of Concord each time they head to and from a Broken Ground school from the Heights. Since many students currently rely on the bus to Rundlett to access multiple downtown resources, moving the middle school to Broken Ground ensures this is their only view of the city until high school.

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Patty Sisk
Patty Sisk
Jun 26, 2024

Thanks for the photo tour!! This confirms what a completely terrible uneducated choice this would be for Rundlett !!

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Fixing up The present Middle school makes more sense. There are bus routes already in effect which get the students to school in a timely manner. Also putting that many students in a closed in area does not lend itself to a rapid departure should there ever be an emergency and all kids and staff would need to get away FAST. For instance a gas leak, a fire,etc. I think the school board needs to rethink the whole idea, and listen to the people who would be affected. I am glad I live where I do , but I have heard from friends that they all think it is the Schoolboard's idea, not the people involved. Oh by …

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