Because winter in Watertown is already a full-contact sport — we don’t need pedestrians playing Frogger with plow trucks.
Why This Section Exists
Watertown’s city ordinance is not complicated:
If you own property, you must keep the sidewalk clear of snow and ice.
When that doesn’t happen, the burden shifts unfairly onto:
- Low-income residents who walk to work
- Kids walking to school
- Seniors
- Anyone without a car
- Anyone who simply wants to stay alive
Unshoveled sidewalks force people into the street, where plows, delivery trucks, and morning traffic turn a simple walk into a safety hazard.
This section documents the problem — one property at a time.
📸 Weekly “Shovel Watch” Gallery
A running photographic record of sidewalks left buried long after the storm has passed.
Each entry includes:
- Address or block
- Photo
- Timestamp
- Brief safety notes
- Pedestrian Impact Score (1–5 “Frozen Fingers”)
- Repeat Offender Badge for chronic neglect
🚫 Why These Properties Are Featured
This isn’t about theatrics — it’s about public safety and accountability.
Failure to clear sidewalks leads to:
- Pedestrians forced into busy streets
- Increased risk of injury or vehicle collisions
- Dangerous conditions for wheelchair users and strollers
- A disproportionate burden on Watertown’s working-class residents
A walkable city isn’t optional — it’s the backbone of safe winter life here.
📢 Special Notice to Landlords & Rental Property Owners
Let’s be crystal clear — renting out your property does NOT absolve you of responsibility.
Under city rules:
You, the property owner, are ultimately responsible for making sure the sidewalk is kept clear.
If your tenants are expected to shovel, you must:
- State it clearly in the lease
- Explain the exact area they must maintain
- Ensure they understand the timing requirements after snowfall
If you do not specify this?
Then congratulations — you own the snow.
Which means you’re the one the city will expect to shovel, and the one accountable if the sidewalk turns into an Olympic luge track.
Rental property does not mean “out of sight, out of mind.”
It means shared responsibility — clearly assigned, clearly maintained, and legally enforced.
📣 Submit Your Photos to Shovel Watch
Send documentation of unshoveled sidewalks to:
tips@watertownpost.com
Include:
- Location
- Date/time
- Short description of the hazard
- Optional: if it’s a rental property, mention that too
We’ll review and add it to the public gallery.
⚠️ Final Note to Property Owners
Shoveling your sidewalk:
- Keeps people safe
- Is legally required
- Is basic human decency
- Prevents your walkway from becoming a snowy homage to Mad Max: Northern Fury
Clear your sidewalks.
Keep Watertown walkable.
Be part of a functioning society.