Would You Walk at Night on Memorial Drive?

What are you doing April 28? How about walking down Memorial Drive at night?

Before you say, "No, thanks" with a roll of the eyes:owner Nick Goebeler is organizing a community walk, Walk at Night, and he's asking all those interested in ridding the corridor of crime -- and in networking to make it happen -- to join in. 

Goebeler sees it as a way of connecting the community and giving people a platform to talk about solutions. 

The move comes in the wake of the brutal rape, beating and robbery of a church staff member at St. Timothy United Methodist Church on Memorial Drive in February.  John Russell Carver has been charged in that case.

Participants will walk from a nearby shopping center to the Chick-Fil-A at 5543 Memorial Drive. Or, if you live within walking distance, Goebeler is working to see that community leaders organize residents to walk from home.

"There's often horrific crime on Memorial Drive," Goebeler said. His idea in combating it is to "get everybody on the same page," Goebeler said. "Networking is key."

Participants will have the chance to win free Chick-Fil-A meals for a whole year, and Goebeler is looking for other businesses to contribute prizes.

He's also hiring police officers to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. 

"The majority of people are awesome" in the neighborhood, Goebeler said. "A small percentage is the problem."