Why You Should Join the Next Shawnee Walk Audit
- 37 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Here at Pogo, we talk a lot about making Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma a place people want to live a little, longer. And a place worth living in for a long time is a place you can actually get around safely — behind the wheel, on foot, or on a bike.
That's exactly what walk audits are all about. And the City of Shawnee has a full lineup we think you should show up for.
What's a Walk Audit?
A walk audit is a community-driven assessment of an area's walkability, safety, and accessibility. Participants walk a route as an everyday pedestrian, noting hazards like broken sidewalks, unsafe crossings, poor lighting, high-speed traffic, and barriers for wheelchair users. They document what they find, and that documentation becomes the data that drives real improvements.
Once a month, the City of Shawnee is inviting residents to lace up their shoes and do just that. You don’t have to be an expert either. Just willing and ready to see your city with a fresh set of eyes on foot. All that’s required is an hour of your time and your honest opinion on what’s next for Shawnee.
Click the button below to check out the full schedule and upcoming audit locations.
Where Are We Walking Next?
The City of Shawnee is hitting a different area each month through the end of 2026, and Pogo wants you to join us . Here's what's coming up:
June 10 — Jim Thorpe Academy, 1111 N Kennedy Ave, 1-2 p.m.
July 8 — Jefferson Elementary, 405 W Dill St, 1-2 p.m.
August 5 — Liberty Academy, 711 E Federal St, 1-2 p.m.
September 9 — Pleasant Grove Public School, 1927 E Walnut St, 1-2 p.m.
October 13 — Grove School, 2800 N Bryan Ave, 1–2 p.m.
November 11 — Location TBD, 1-2 p.m.
Be sure to check the City of Shawnee's website before each audit, as times and locations may change.
Why Walk Audits Matter
Everybody in Pottawatomie County deserves streets that work for them, whether they’re biking to school, walking to work, or driving to the grocery store. Walk audits are how we figure out where the gaps are and start closing them.
In April 2026, the City of Shawnee passed its landmark Safe Streets for All Action Plan, aimed at making Shawnee's streets safer for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and everyone in between. The reason it exists is simple and sobering. Between 2017 and 2023, Shawnee ranked among the highest per-capita fatality rates in Oklahoma. In that time frame, the city recorded more than 31 roadway deaths and between 2015 and 2021, nine non-motorist fatalities. The plan calls that unacceptable. And so do we. Thanks to the leadership and vision of Shawnee’s City Commission, the goal is officially zero traffic fatalities in Shawnee by 2036.
But getting there takes more than a plan on paper. It takes people. People walking the routes, people flagging the gaps, and people telling decision-makers what the data alone can't show. Through walk audits and community surveys, residents identified nearly 69 miles of missing sidewalks and mapped more than 200 safety concerns across the city that informed the Safe Streets for All Action Plan.
And that work isn't done yet.
Come Walk With Us!
A stroll through your city can shape what Shawnee looks like for the next generation.
Better living is a community project. And it doesn't just happen in a city hall conference room. Change happens when real people — people like you! — get out and say “This sidewalk is crumbling” or “It’s so dark and unsafe here” or “My kid crosses this intersection every single day and it terrifies me.”
That's your voice. And Shawnee is all ears.
See the full Shawnee Walks schedule here, and we’ll see you soon!
(P.S.: Don’t forget the sunscreen.)
