Community organizations add 25 benches to Cape Coral bus stops

Taking action to keep children safe at bus stops, Rotary Club of Cape Coral and Cape Coral Kiwanis Foundation put up 25 new benches at school bus stops across Cape Coral Saturday.

The local organizations and parents pushed for benches after a car hit and killed 8-year-old Layla Aiken at her bus stop back in March.

MORE: 8-year-old girl killed in hit-and-run at school bus stop in Cape Coral

Mother Sandra Mattoni said she has worried for her son’s safety while he waits at his Cape Coral bus stop.

“Sometimes people take this turn way too fast,” Mattoni said.

But she said she can rest a little easier knowing that a new bench has been placed in her neighborhood.

“It feels good that the kids have a safe place to sit,” Mattoni said. “It’s stable. It’s not going anywhere. The community will know about the benches, so that they’ll be able to be aware of the benches as they drive by.”

Its among 200 benches that will be placed at school bus stops around Cape Coral.

Members of Cape Coral rotary and Kiwanis clubs have spent every weekend placing the benches at bus stops. They’ve made an agreement with the city to have all the benches in place by the beginning of the school year.

Cape Coral Rotarians said there has been widespread help in the community every weekend to get benches at bus stops.

“Everybody is really so supportive in terms of what we’re doing and what we’re attempting to do,” Rotarian John Calla said.

Although members said there is still more work to be done, it’s a step in the direction to improve safety for kids.

Rotary and Kiwanis organizations said they still have a little over 30 more benches to install. The clubs also plan to add reflector lights to benches. They hope to have those in place by the middle of August.

“It helps me sleep better at night knowing that the children have a safe place to wait for the bus,” Rotarian Nick Muhlenbruck said. “They’re not standing in the street.”

RELATED:

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• Cape Coral community members build 100 benches for school bus riders