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Walker committee unveils "Safety Town" for ages 5–8, to launch June 2026
Summary
The City of Walker’s Community Engagement Committee presented Safety Town, an immersive safety‑education program for children ages 5–8, proposing a June 2026 launch, a budget of about $11,000 and a $125 per‑child fee with scholarships under consideration.
The City of Walker’s Community Engagement Committee presented a new Safety Town program to the commission on Dec. 8, describing an immersive, hands‑on safety curriculum for children ages 5 to 8 and announcing a planned launch in June 2026.
"Safety Town is an immersive learning experience for children who are 5 to 8 years old," said Jenna Wilmers, chair of the Community Engagement Committee. She outlined a four‑day, Monday–Thursday program that would run 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and give children repeated practice with pedestrian safety, bike safety, fire prevention and basic first aid.
The committee provided a program budget of about $11,000 and said registration will be $125 per child, with registration revenue expected to cover approximately $2,500 of the total and sponsorships and in‑kind donations planned to cover the remainder. Organizers said they are exploring scholarships so cost will not be a barrier to participation.
Staff and committee members said the program will rely on a mix of city departments and community partners. Presenters named Walker Police, Walker Fire, Walker DPW, local 9‑1‑1 dispatchers, Kenwood Hills Public Schools, media partner WZZM and a range of local businesses as potential partners for demonstrations, logistics and sponsorship. Program sessions are planned to be staged indoors at Zinsser Elementary School with a first‑year cap of about 20 participants.
Committee members said the curriculum is complete, and Brooke and Todd Johnston have committed to help facilitate sessions. Proposed program elements include temporary cardboard structures, bikes and helmets, traffic signage, safety vests and a smoke trailer demonstration to teach building evacuation techniques.
Organizers outlined outreach plans that include promotion through the city website, schools, social media and community events such as the Easter egg hunt and a pumpkin bash. Volunteers will attend preprogram meetings and training; the committee estimated three volunteers per day plus an emcee and participation by subject‑matter experts from public safety.
The committee requested commission approval to move forward with fundraising, sponsorship agreements and registration setup through the city recreation department. Commissioners responded with praise for the presentation and expressed support for the committee’s next steps.
The committee asked the commission to consider the budget and partnerships as staff begin formal arrangements ahead of the June 2026 launch.
