Steve Altman knows a thing or two about being part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

When he noticed the tall grass and weeds bordering the Kingfisher Trails segment that backs up to his housing addition, Altman didn’t fire off a letter to City Hall.

He fired up his lawnmower.

That was 10 years ago and he and his mower are still going strong, maintaining about six acres of trails right-of-way between Will Rogers Drive and Briscoe Park.

“I started mowing it because the grass and weeds around the trail where it crossed Will Rogers were tall enough that you had trouble seeing kids crossing the street, so it was a safety thing,” Altman said. “I guess I just forgot to stop.”

Now “Mower Man,” as Altman is called by those who now know him by sight if not by name, has identified another safety concern – residents from his neighborhood accessing the trails by crossing an often slippery and treacherous concrete spillway on a pond dam.

“A lot of people are using the dam on Mike Matthews’ pond to get from the Trails West Addition to the Kingfisher Trails,” he said. “The spillway in the dam is a little dangerous to walk through due to the steep sides.

“And when there has been rain, the water is running through the spillway which makes it impassable.”

When not crossing via the dam, Altman’s neighbors are walking east along Will Rogers Drive from the housing addition to the trail entrance, creating another hazard from passing motorists, Altman said.

Once more, instead of complaining about the problem, Altman devised a solution.

With Matthews’ permission and with the help of metalworker Ray Dean Hill, Altman developed plans to build a 20-foot by eight-foot bridge across the spillway, with handrails on the sides and a kick plate at each end for safety.

And Altman also has pledged $1,125 of his own money as a matching donation to raise at least the first half of the estimated $4,500 cost of the project.

He’s sent letters to all of his neighbors in the Trails West Addition asking them to pitch in by making tax deductible donations through Kingfisher Trails Inc.

Those who contribute $100 or more will get their names on a plaque to be displayed on the bridge, he said.

Altman said most of the responses he’s received have been favorable, although one neighbor expressed concern about the lack of public access causing more people to walk through private yards to get to the bridge.

“She has young children and she does not want ne’erdo-wells back there by her children,” Altman said. “I understand but don’t see it as a big problem since there is no good vehicle route to that back area.”

One of the positive responses Altman has received is from Kingfisher City Manager Dave Slezickey, who also resides in the area.

“Steve’s done the planning on it and put his money where his mouth is, so I’m sending him a check,” Slezickey said. “I think it’s a great idea to expand trail access.”

He said depending on how Altman’s fundraising efforts pan out, the city will look at chipping in as well, possibly by constructing a concrete extension from the bridge to the trail.

“My big concern is safety,” Altman said. “In my opinion, kids on a bridge are much safer than kids in a spillway.”