OPTIMIST CLUB RECEIVES HONORS FOR SAFETY CITY

The Jackson Noon Optimist Club is again getting attention on the international level for its cyclist-friendly section of the Jackson City Park known as Safety City, USA.

The club recently won top honors as the best safety project in the Optimist International organization. Besides the first place award for Safety City, the Noon Optimist received a third place in the sports and recreation category for its "Kids' Day in the Park" project. Anita Sievers, a past president of the club, received the awards on behalf of the club at the International convention held in Toronto, Canada.

President-Elect Chris McReynolds said this isn't the first time that Safety City has been recognized on the international level. In 1993, only one year after its creation, Safety City won not only a first place award in the safety category, but also received the Best Overall Award in the annual CPA (Community Projects Award) competition.

In 1996, the club was again recognized for its Safety City project receiving another first place award. Also recognizing the outstanding project was the National Safety Council when the Noon Optimist received an Honor Award at it annual convention in Chicago.

The $27,000 project was created by club and community members interested in providing a safe environment in which children can play and ride their bikes. Craftsmen, contractors, business people and individuals assisted with the project, donating countless hours of labor and numerous supplies.

Safety City is a good example of what can be accomplished when everyone works together, said Beverly Nelson, project chairperson. As word spread about our project idea, as well as our needs, everyone was anxious to be a part and help in any way they could. I still get a lump in my throat when I recall that Saturday in April of 1992. The roadways had been excavated the previous week and by 7 a.m. that Saturday, the volunteers started arriving.

It was an awesome sight to see all of those men, tools, in hand, ready and so willing to help us build our miniature village. Bob Johnson and Wayne Fronabarger, who served as our "job foremen" had done a great job coordinating the work on the construction site as well as spreading the word to area craftsmen. The cement trucks started rolling in, three trucks at a time, and by noon the concrete was poured and finished, recalled Nelson. Safety City had become a reality.

Since 1992, other groups have written the Noon Optimist Club requesting design information and pictures on the safety village. Similar projects have now been developed in Nebraska, Alabama, Florida and Indiana, reported Nelson.

The Noon Optimist Club dedicated considerable time and resources to teaching children about safety, especially in the area of bicycle safety. Members teach three two-hour classes each Saturday during the month of May each year. Each child participating receives a bicycle helmet, bike flag and a packet of numerous other safety items and information.

The miniature city is an on-going project for the Noon Optimists as they try to make improvements to the program and the area each year. New playground equipment has recently been installed and more is scheduled to be added in the near future. The City Park Department has also improved the playground area with the addition of a new rubber-chip ground cover and installed a new and safer plastic edging for the area. We really appreciate their cooperation and assistance with the maintenance at Safety City, said McReynolds.

Being a part of the Jackson city park system, Safety City USA is open to the public at all times. The Noon Optimists remind families that it is a great place to teach children, not only how to ride a bicycle, but also teach them the rules of the road as well. The miniature village is located on Optimist Hill, just west of Rotary Lake in the Jackson City Park.