A local organization has taken over the fundraising for cameras to be installed on the bike path parallel to Chico State’s campus after community concern for funding the project.
After the City Council signaled its support in February for $20,000 worth of 360-degree cameras to be installed on the dangerous bike path, the city council expressed concern that the cameras wouldn’t be purchased for several years because it didn’t have the money to put them in.
Unhappy with that timeline, the North Valley Community Foundation adopted the Chico Police Bike Path Safety Project on April 6 and has already raised more than $4,000 toward the project according to foundation president and CEO Alexa Benson-Valavanis.
The foundation gives community organizations and projects a platform for fundraising as well as grants to help fund projects.
Benson-Valavanis said that after many conversations about safety among the Chico Police Department, Chico State and the Downtown Business Association, the foundation created a specific foundation that provides resources for funding projects.
“My hope is that we can raise this money quickly,” Alexa Benson-Valavanis said. “We already have a couple pledges that will finish it up once we get closer to our goal.”
According to the presentation at the City Council meeting in February, more than 196 calls have been made to Chico Police Department from the Chico State Bike Path in the last three years. Incidents ranged from robberies, beatings to rape. In fact, some students refer to the path as The Rape Trail.
“I live on Nord so I have to take the rape trail to and from campus several times a day,” said Katie Carter, a junior child development major. “I try to avoid having night classes because it’s so scary. I have a 7 p.m. class next semester, so hopefully the cameras are done by then.”
Lt. Matt Madden of Chico Police Department explained that the proposed cameras have 24-hour recording capabilities that give a direct feedback to the department.
Carly Allison, a sophomore pre-nursing major, doesn’t think the cameras will be a solution, but does think they are a step in the right direction.
“I’m glad we are getting cameras. Maybe it will keep people willing to cause crime away,” Allison said. “I’ll definitely be donating to the project.”
Donations are currently being accepted on the North Valley Community Foundation website. Donors can choose $25, $50, $100 or an amount of their choice to contribute.
Photos by Whitney Urmann