JACKSON SAFETY CITY HAVING POSITIVE EFFECT

JACKSON -- Since 1992, children in Jackson have been learning how to ride their bicycles safely at Safety City in City Park. The miniature village provides a setting for children in grades K through four to learn how to travel through the city's streets more safely.

Jackson Police Chief Marvin Sides says children aren't the only ones who've been positively affected by Safety City.

"The most encouraging thing is that we're seeing more parents, when they ride with their children, are wearing helmets," he said.

It's important for parents to provide a safety-conscious role model, Sides says.

Safety City was built by the Jackson Noon Optimist Club with the aid of volunteer labor and donated materials. Rodney Bollinger of the city's Department of Public Works designed Safety City.

Jackson's Safety City is a spinoff of Cape Girardeau's but differs by remaining open to the public at all times, said Beverly Nelson, the Jackson Noon Optimist Club president and chairman of the Safety City project.

Nelson says about 1,400 children have gone through the formal program since 1992. Those include many groups of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

One family had their child's birthday party at Safety City. "I was almost shocked," Nelson said. "The kids all brought their bikes and we talked about safety. It was a neat idea."

In 1993, the program won Optimist International's top award as the best project of the year. It also received an award from the National Safety Council.

Besides bicycle safety, children in the Safety City program also learn pedestrian safety and fire safety in addition to receiving information about "stranger danger" and substance abuse. Representatives of the Jackson Fire Department and Jackson Police Department help Optimist volunteers conduct the sessions.

Nelson said the Optimist Club has supported unsuccessful attempts by Safe Communities and Safe Kids to campaign for a state law that would require bicyclists to wear helmets.

"We felt if it's important enough for motorcyclists to wear helmets then bicyclists should wear helmets," she said.

Safety City sessions were held last weekend and more are scheduled for Saturday. Saturday's sessions are already filled.

Space remains in the Safety City classes to be held Saturday, May 30. The sessions are from 9-11 a.m. and from noon-2 p.m. Registration forms are available at The Way Christian Book Store or from a Jackson Noon Optimist Club member.

Participating children will each receive a helmet, bike flag and safety information. The registration fee is $7.

For information, phone Beverly Nelson at 243-8585 or 243-5010.