TAMPA, Fla. — Safer streets are coming to the University Area of Tampa. 

New sidewalks will be added near Mort Elementary on Bearss Avenue.

Parents are excited.

"I believe it'll be beneficial for the whole community," said parent Cheryl Jacobs. "I think it'd be perfect."

Community leaders said the improvements are needed in the area since most people walk or bike.

"What you’ll find in the community is you'll find sidewalks that lead to nowhere, you’ll find a strip of sidewalk, then no sidewalk, another strip of sidewalk, then no sidewalk," said University Area Community Development Corporation Executive Director Sarah Combs.

"So for us, we really think it's so critically important to be able to connect these sidewalks that lead to nowhere to sidewalks that are already there." 

The University Area Community Development Corporation is also adding sidewalks nearby, around Harvest Hope Park.

Combs said she is trying to secure $1.5 million in sidewalk funding to connect the park to Mort Elementary so it's safe for children to walk there.

She hopes the new transportation tax that was passed in Hillsborough County will help bring the additional sidewalks to the University Area by next year.