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Sheriff's Safety Town celebrates 10 years

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            Sheriff’s Safety Town in Caddo Parish is celebrating its 10-year anniversary! We’re marking the occasion by partnering with the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier for its annual Super Safety Saturday event from 9 a.m. until noon this Saturday, September 29, at Safety Town, 8910 Jewella Avenue.

            “What better way to celebrate than to join with the Junior League, which was one of Safety Town’s first big community supporters,” said Sheriff Prator. “During our building phase, the Junior League made a generous contribution to help build the Safety Town outdoor pavilion. Each year since then they’ve hosted Super Safety Saturday at the site to teach children about health and safety. It’s a perfect fit.”

            Admission to Super Safety Saturday is free and will include 22 vehicles in the Touch-A-Truck exhibit; a bicycle round up where kids can bring and ride their own bikes through Safety Town; free child safety seat inspections; demonstrations in Safety Town’s Weather Safety House; mobile dental checks; Shots for Tots; health and safety exhibits; family fun and bounce houses; music; snacks; and give-aways. Food trucks will be on site at a cost.

            Sheriff’s Safety Town opened its doors in December 2008 after breaking ground in November 2006. Building construction by Sumrall Construction Co. began in January 2008.

            Prator, who had more than 30 years of law enforcement experience at the time, said the community needed Safety Town, having seen too many senseless child-related injuries and deaths from gunshots, drownings, car crashes, and more. Many kids weren’t being taught at home about gun safety or the importance of buckling up in the car. So he set out to identify community support and raise the funds needed to build the project.

            Since then, 58,000 second-grade students and 126,000 total visitors have been through the doors at Safety Town. Each school year, students from 116 schools in seven parishes and five counties participate in its safety education program.

            Sheriff’s Safety Town is the only permanent interactive safety education complex in Louisiana. Inquiries about how to build a similar project have been received from Canada, New Mexico, California, Colorado, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida.

            Sheriff’s Safety Town in Caddo Parish includes a two-week curriculum taught through the school system to area second-graders. The number of components has grown from 10 to 18 and includes vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle, fire, and electrical safety. At the conclusion of their studies, students visit the pint-sized town where they practice safety skills in an interactive environment featuring child-sized streets and sidewalks, traffic lights, bicycles and small electric cars. A permanent staff of Caddo Sheriff’s deputies, Shreveport Police and Fire, and Louisiana State troopers greets students each day to review their safety lessons and guide them through Safety Town.

            Prator said Sheriff's Safety Town would not have been possible if not for the generous support of local businesses, citizens, and community groups.

            “This is a project that Caddo Parish and all of Louisiana can be proud of. I know it’s something that I’m extremely proud of,” he said. “Their field trip to Safety Town is one these students will remember for a life time. More importantly, they’re leaving with a lesson in safety that will stay with them into adulthood.”

Note:  We appreciate any help from our media partners in advancing this story before Saturday's event. If you plan to visit Safety Town this week, please keep the weather forecast in mind. Outdoor activites could be suspended on bad weather days. Sheriff Prator is available on Tuesday for interviews. Please contact Media Relations to schedule.

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