Highland Park Rotary Gives Safety Village a Face Lift
Release Date: Jul. 27, 2007
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill., July 27, 2007— Safety Village has been a key component to teaching children safety procedures through role-playing, art projects, stories, films and practical experience. The miniature village makes this program fun and brings role-playing to life.
Thanks to the $15,000 donation from the Highland Park/Highwood Rotary Club the Park District of Highland Park has been able to make some major renovations to Safety Village. What was once a simple plot of asphalt with small buildings on wheels has now been transformed into a kid’s wonderland with permanent buildings, beautiful landscaping and freshly painted streets, railroad crossings and sidewalks. Unique accessibility features are being planned which will include audible traffic signals, tactile street to sidewalk grade changes and new street signs. These will serve to meet the Park District’s desire to include participants of all abilities.
This renovation and expansion will allow the Park District to offer more new programs that can utilize Safety Village as well as enable other children to enjoy the area when programs are not being offered. “This is a great asset to Highland Park and the Park District. It allows us to create a safe, pretend environment for children to learn from,” comments Superintendent of Recreation Services, Kathy Donahue.
Come out, bring your bike and test out the new Safety Village, located behind West Ridge Center,
636 Ridge Road. For more information about Safety Village programs please call 847.831.3810 or check out our seasonal brochures.About the Park District of Highland Park
The Park District of Highland Park, founded in 1909, operates and manages over 600 acres of land in 44 park areas, and offers approximately 2,800 recreation and seasonal programs. Facilities include an indoor ice arena, indoor tennis and racquetball complex, two recreation centers, a nature center, an 18-hole golf course, driving range, adventure golf, aquapark, beaches, boat launch ramp and yacht club on Lake Michigan.
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