Leawood parents want safer streets after child’s death. What could the city do?

Leawood wants to make its streets safer. Or at least, one of its streets.

The recent death of a 10-year-old who was hit by a car while riding his scooter has prompted parents — many of whom have already been pushing for the city to become more walkable — to demand the city do more to improve road safety.

Now, the Leawood City Council is looking at adding more pedestrian features to at least one of its streets amid a big push from concerned parents to make the streets safer as the city looks to begin several road improvement projects.

“It has to be a part of the conversation, where do you want them and where do you want to put them. Why can’t we figure out new ways to include them in the streets of Leawood,” resident and parent Jaclyn Penn said regarding pedestrians in Leawood. “While kids have been a big topic, it’s not just kids. It unfortunately seems it has taken kids to get the city to start talking about it.”

In October, 10-year-old Duke Ommert died at the hospital while being treated after being hit by a vehicle while riding an electric scooter on Lee Boulevard, just north of West 103rd Street.

During the Nov. 3 Leawood City Council meeting, several parents, including Ommert’s mother, came forward with experiences of their children being hit by cars on busy roads, like 83rd Street, and urged council members to make changes to the streets – particularly in north Leawood where a lot of roads don’t have sidewalks or other infrastructure to make it safer for residents to be mobile outside of cars.

“We are at a crossroads for how we design our communities for people to enjoy their lives,” Leawood resident and parent Leah Maugans said. “Pedestiran infrastructure helps every age. There’s not an age limit to safe, accessible pedestrian infrastructure … if we can make safe pedestrian infrastructure, it’s truly a wellbeing thing.”

Maugans’ interest in pedestrian safety came after her son was hit by a car when they were crossing the street. He survived the accident, “but when you see your child lifeless on the street for a few moments, it changes you.”

“In north Leawood, there’s no margin for error,” she said.

Following parent testimony, the city’s Bike/Walk Committee recommended the City Council make adjustments to planned improvements for 83rd Street as a first step. The City Council is expected to discuss this item during Monday’s meeting.

Reconstructed in 1995, 83rd Street includes 4-foot sidewalks separated from the curb. The Bike/Walk Committee is recommending replacing several feet of the sidewalks with 5-foot sidewalks.

It is also recommending to replace the 4-foot sidewalks with an 8-foot sidewalk at the south side from the west city limits to the north leg of Wenoga Road, and to put in 6-foot sidewalks near State Line Road. Some areas would have a 1.5- to 2-foot buffer between the curb and the sidewalk

Current city standards require a minimum 5-foot sidewalk for new street construction, according to the city staff report.

In order to achieve wider sidewalks throughout the corridor, the roadway would need to be narrowed from its existing 32 feet to 29 feet, which would still allow vehicles to pull to the side when emergency vehicles need to pass.

Additionally, the committee is recommending installing a rectangular, rapid flashing beacon crossing on 83rd Street at the north leg of Wenonga, striped bike lanes from Wenonga to Meadow, modify traffic signals at 83rd Street and Lee Boulevard and 83rd and State Line Road to restrict left turning vehicles while the pedestrian signal is activated.

If the City Council opts for this path, with more sidewalk modifications for the 83rd Street project, staff anticipates that it will cost more than the current $5.3 million estimate and delay construction until 2027 as staff explores a new design and approach. It’s unclear how much higher the cost would be.

The Leawood City Council meeting will start at 7 p.m. on Monday at Leawood City Hall — 4800 Town Center Drive.

This story was originally published November 16, 2025 at 5:48 AM.