'Ava's Walk for Pedestrian Safety' Scheduled for April

The family of Ava Marie Zimmerman, the five-year-old child that was killed by a car last year in downtown Greendale, is organizing a walk to increase pedestrian safety awareness to motorists.

The walk will be on April 17 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. starting in front of continuing along sidewalks and pathways to Broad Street, to Catalpa Street, to Darnell Lane, into Westway, back to Northway and ending back at Village Hall.

Organizers are expecting about 300 participants. A short presentation about pedestrian safety will follow the walk.

The Village Board approved the walk on Tuesday night.

Ava died on April 14 and the walk will mark the one year anniversary of her death.

In a letter to the Village Board Ava's grandmother, Peggy Zimmerman, said that the "spring date is critical to increase awareness for safety of all pedestrians and cyclists."

Over the summer last year local businesses donated a bronze statue in remembrance of Ava, which stands near the spot where the accident happened.

In that same letter Peggy Zimmerman expressed her gratitude towards Greendale.

"We are grateful to the entire Village of Greendale and the community for the kindness and support that you have demonstrated throughout this past year....This is all about safety and what better place to kick off our cause than in the Village of Greendale that Ava loved so much."

For event updates you can visit the walk's Facebook event. Also, check out Ava's Walk YouTube video. T-shirts are also available for order and donation, see attached.