Parks board to staff children’s activities at May 10 Santa Fe safety fair; police and health partners confirmed

Tiffany Gearhart, administrative assistant to the police department civil service director, briefed the Parks and Recreation Board on a community safety fair to be held May 10 at Ruggie Park, organized by the Santa Fe Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association and the police department. The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; setup begins near 9 a.m.

Gearhart asked the board to run a children’s activity area—simple carnival games or summer-program materials—to draw families while safety demonstrations and agency booths run. Confirmed participants include local ISD students doing CPR/stroke booths, Poison Control, UTMB (materials for goodie bags), Santa Fe Fire and Rescue (fire truck), police units, a drone demonstration from the department’s drone program, and plans for a retired K‑9 handler to bring a retired K‑9 for meet-and-greet if cleared by the handler’s employer.

Organizers are pursuing infant-and-child water-safety demonstrations (Infant Swim), Coast Guard and Texas Parks and Wildlife outreach for water and wildlife safety, volunteers for car-seat safety checks, a gun-safety display and internet safety programming (ICAC) for children. Gearhart said UTMB and Poison Control had already provided items for the goodie bags.

The board discussed shade, canopies and indoor options if volunteers need air-conditioned space; the city building may be available for some activities. Setup, volunteer shirts and supplies (wagon, cooler, cooling station) were mentioned; Parks board members agreed to help staff the children’s area and to coordinate supplies.

Gearhart offered her contact details for coordination and said she would return to a board meeting with updates if requested. The board did not take a formal vote on participation but agreed to support the event.