Sidewalks are a good thing to have. In many towns, though, they could use some freshening up. However, a simple plan for improvements sooner or later will encounter the Americans With Disabilities Act. (And then there’s Windsor Heights, whose residents never had them and really really don’t want them.)
The state is ready to replace sidewalks along IA 9 and IA 76 in Waukon, but there’s a catch: Many trees that sit between the sidewalk and the road will have to be removed. One side of one block alone (PDF) will lose half a dozen trees.
There will be a nice place to walk and ride bikes, but no leafy mature trees to provide shade and pretty colors. Such is the nature of tradeoffs. (On the other hand, if they’re ash trees, perhaps it’s a blessing in disguise.)