Coconut Grove Student Brings See Me Flags to Neighborhood Crosswalks
A young resident helped turn concern about crossing the street into action in Coconut Grove, Florida. 10 year old Lucas Kwiatkowski helped bring See Me Flags to his community to make pedestrians more visible to drivers.
Helping Drivers See People Crossing
Lucas, a student at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Day School, wanted to improve crossings for children and neighbors. He advocated for crosswalk flags as a simple way to draw drivers’ attention to people walking across the road.
The program launched near his school on Main Highway, giving pedestrians access to bright orange flags they could carry while crossing.
From a Lemonade Stand to Community Support
Lucas did more than suggest the idea. He funded the first flag station with money raised through a lemonade stand.
His effort gained support from the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District, which committed to funding up to three additional systems and handling installations through its operations team.
It’s an inspiring example of a student working with local leaders to address a concern in his neighborhood.
How Crosswalk Flags Work
See Me Flags are shared by everyone using the crossing:
- Take a flag from the station before crossing
- Check for traffic and wait until drivers have stopped or the crossing is clear
- Carry the flag where drivers can see it as you cross
- Return it to the station on the other side for the next person
Crosswalk flags add visibility alongside existing pedestrian safety measures. Drivers still need to pay attention and yield, and pedestrians should continue to use care when crossing.
We’re proud to see Lucas’s initiative help bring See Me Flags to Coconut Grove.
Want to bring crosswalk flags to your neighborhood? Explore See Me Flags starter sets for your community or school.
Learn more: Watch the CBS Miami story and read the Coconut Grove program announcement.