Cobb County Safety Village reports programs, partnerships and ARPA‑funded improvements

Allison Carter, director of the Cobb County Safety Village, told the board on Feb. 25 that the village provides hands‑on safety education to kindergarten, second‑ and fourth‑grade students and that the program reaches roughly 20,000 students annually.

The county’s Safety Village opened in February 2009 and serves school districts, private schools and home‑school groups across Cobb County. "I have the best job in the county," Carter said, and described a range of educational programs — from a puppet‑based fire safety lesson and dog‑bite prevention for second graders to car‑seat installation clinics run by Safe Kids Cobb County.

Why it matters: Safety Village programs are part of the county’s prevention and public‑safety efforts. Carter told the commissioners the village has educated "just over 375,000 students" since opening and that it operates several community programs — a smoke‑alarm installation program targeting older adults and at‑risk households, car‑seat fitting clinics, a Rad Kids self‑empowerment summer program, and UL/Underwriters Laboratories‑supported STEM safety curricula for older students.

Carter outlined recent facility upgrades funded in part by an American Rescue Plan Act award to the Safety Village Foundation. The board awarded $275,000 in ARPA funds to the foundation; the foundation matched that amount, producing $550,000 for three projects: outdoor restrooms, a new plaza with additional seating and shade, and an all‑inclusive playground. Carter said the restroom project addressed logistical issues for school groups on the site and the plaza and playground will improve outdoor instruction and provide quiet space for students with special needs.

Carter described partnerships and new sponsors: LG Community Credit Union completed work on a central building island; the Atlanta Braves Foundation agreed to sponsor a mini ballpark at the Safety Village to support year‑round hydration and activity lessons; and UL will expand a Safety Science classroom to provide middle‑ and high‑school STEM programming. She also highlighted daily operational partners including Cobb Fire, Marietta Fire, Marietta Police Department, Cobb Police Department and the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office.

Commissioners praised the program and asked clarifying questions. Commissioner Burrell said the village concept was modeled on a Canadian approach and called the expansion "exploded" in a positive way; Commissioner Sheffield asked whether the increased dog‑bite prevention successes are tied to family pets versus strays; Carter said animal‑services data are provided to the village by animal‑services staff and that those breakouts (home dog vs. stray) are maintained by that office.

Carter emphasized the Safety Village’s community services beyond classroom visits: Safe Kids Cobb County does car‑seat checks and, through grants and partnerships, can provide seats for families in need; the village’s smoke‑alarm installation work targets seniors and other at‑risk households and is offered free of charge; and the village supports special‑needs families through tailored car‑seat and safety services.

Ending: Commissioners thanked Carter and the village partners for program growth and community impact; staff and commission members offered to help distribute event flyers for family events and summer programming. Carter said the new plaza and UL‑sponsored classroom were expected to be completed in 2025 and that the village will continue to expand community offerings.