Philipsburg:--- The Community Police Officer (CPO) of the St. Peters community is making great strides with changes in the area mostly by getting the residents and youths of St. Peters to participate in projects that are beneficial to the entire community. CPO Felix Richards told SMN News that last week he managed to get the parents of the Methodist Agogic Center to agree and accept the new parking area for drop off of students attending the MAC School in Betty's Estate. Richards said during the morning hours and when school ends each day there is a traffic back up in the Betty's Estate area and to ensure there is a free flow of traffic he contacted the land owners of a vacant property next to the SOL gas station on St. Peters road and gained permission to use the area for parents to drop off MAC students. The area was graded and made into a drop off spot for students of the MAC. To better facilitate the project, Richards managed to get a few companies to build a two way step that the students and parents can use to walk to the school. Richards said the Scot families, Ellis families, BBW, MNO, Windward Roads, Mr. Bakker, the parents who volunteered, those that accepted the idea, management of the Methodist Agogic Center, and the bus drivers helped to make the project a great success. The CPO of the St. Peters community is urging parents to use the new drop off area and not to drive up to the school because this has been causing a severe traffic back up for years. He said the idea now is to create a free flow of traffic in St. Peters area and to provide safety for students attending the MAC school.
Richards said since the steps were built GEBE has decided to place a shade over the entire step up entrance to provide shade from the sun and rain when the students have to use the walkway to get to and from the drop off spot. GEBE has also agreed to put lights throughout the walkway. The police bike patrols and the police patrols will also be surveying the area to ensure that thugs and other persons do not use the area for loitering and other illegal activities.
Another project that was undertaken by the CPO of St. Peters area is the painting of the basketball court on St. Peters road. Richards said a number of youngsters came out in full swing Sunday morning to paint the basketball court. The area was cleaned and then painted. Materials such as scrapers, paint, and brushes were donated by Kooyman. Nico Bersman said he was more than happy to contribute to a project that would enhance the St. Peters neighborhood. The initiative taken by CPO Felix Richard clearly shows the effectiveness of this program.