OCOEE, Fla. — Tripping on uneven sidewalks is a big problem in an Ocoee neighborhood, one resident explained.

What You Need To Know

  • Ebony Germain says uneven sidewalks are causing major tripping problems in Ocoee’s Neumann Village

  • Officials with Ocoee say sidewalk replacements are not planned this year on Neumann Village Court

  • They blame trees for causing the uneven sidewalks

  • The city is evaluating the removal process of the trees before replacing sidewalks

Ebony Germain says the uneven sidewalks are a major tripping hazard on Neumann Village Court.

“(The sidewalks are) all lifting just like this, so if anybody rides a bicycle, this is an automatic fall, automatic hurt or automatic just knock your teeth out,” she said.

Germain moved into the Neumann Village, behind the West Oaks Mall, more than five years ago.

She didn’t realize there were so many sidewalk issues.

“I was actually taking the children to school to the bus stop, and I actually fell and tripped right here on this part of the sidewalk because I didn’t notice there was lifting so high,” she said. “I actually tripped and fell and skinned my elbows and my knees up.”

As an HOA board member, Germain and other neighbors have called the city of Ocoee multiple times, but all they get are temporary repairs, like asphalt used to grade the uneven sidewalks.

Spectrum News 13 also contacted the city, and Community Relations Manager Joy Porter Wright said despite the dangerous conditions, Neumann Village Court is not on this year’s list for sidewalk replacements.

One of the big problems is the trees, which are the culprits for these uneven sidewalks as the roots are pushing the sidewalks up, said Wright.

Wright says the city is currently evaluating the removal of the trees impacting the sidewalks.

But crews may need to get city commission and HOA approval before the trees are removed.

“This is very frustrating because (kids) are in jeopardy of getting hurt,” said Germain.

The city of Ocoee is also in the process of implementing a digitized system to better track sidewalk inventory and replacement.

Send us your road related concerns by filling out this simple to use form.