Black Walnut Hazard

As good citizens of South Milwaukee, we try as best we can to remove any hazards from our lives, and from our children’s lives with the goal of enhancing safety to all the people in our community. In the winter, there are ordinances that require us to remove snow and ice from the sidewalks adjacent to our homes.

In the autumn, a different kind of hazard lurks on the sidewalks of our city—black walnuts. I have heard many people complain about tripping over them on the paths at Grant Park. I am more concerned about the hazard these black walnuts are causing on our residential sidewalks.

Many who go for a walk in the evenings need to arm themselves with flashlights or they will trip or roll an ankle. These black walnuts can range from the size of ping pong balls to as large as tennis balls. Their dark color makes it difficult to see in low light.

The park is a big place and I do not expect all the paths to be clear. However, I would ask the good citizens of South Milwaukee to police the sidewalks in front of their homes to ensure that these black walnuts are not hazards for your neighbors.