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SAFETY CITY |
When the welfare of children is on the line, it is reassuring to see people band together to make a difference. This is what Safety City is all about. It is a place where children learn to look out for themselves and adults gain a new perspective on safety and their role in enhancing quality of life at the community level.
Each year approximately 8,000 youngsters are seriously injured or killed in accidents nationwide. The worst part is that many of these tragedies could have been prevented if the children had only known the dangers of the situation and been better prepared to deal with them. In 1987 the Bluegrass Junior Women's Club proposed a program to educate children in safety through explanation, demonstration, and practice. Gaining praise and support from the community, the Safety City project was born.
$400,000 was raised to build Safety City. The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government donated land and $320,000. The remaining funds were contributed by the Bluegrass Junior Women's Club, and the business community in various forms. Two full-time officers, provided by the Lexington Division of Police, operate the facility and programs.
Two uniformed police officers teach the course to second graders from all Fayette County public and private schools. This age group was chosen because, according to educators, that is the level at which children begin to use reasoning powers. Project directors hope to expand the program to include children from surrounding counties.
The four hour course was developed by the Lexington Division of Police, Bureau of Community Services, with the help of Fayette County Public Schools. Topics covered include pedestrian, bicycle, passenger, school bus, and general safety (fire, dangerous strangers, water, gun safety, emergency phone calls). The curriculum includes classroom instruction and practical exercises. The practical exercises, done on the streets of Safety City, consist of closely monitored walking trips and mini-car driving.
Lexington is proud to offer Safety City as the first facility of its type in Kentucky. There are others in the country, but none of this quality or magnitude. The Safety City project is a clear indication that Lexington is a special place to live.
Bureau of Community Services |
Safety City occupies a two acre site at
Red Mile Place. There is a classroom building and a "mini city" where practical
exercises take place. This scaled-down version of Lexington has paved streets and
sidewalks, working traffic signals and traffic signs. Battery powered
"mini-cars" traveling at three mph are used so children may experience vehicle
safety first-hand.