The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Construction begins on new Safety Town at Lorain High
Youngsters on small wheels will learn the rules of the big roads at the new Safety Town under construction at Lorain High School.
Jeff Hawks, executive director of operations at Lorain City Schools, said all of the buildings will be new except for a lighthouse which will move from the former Lorain High in South Lorain.
City workers built a storage barn at the site on the north side of the Lorain High property at 2600 Ashland Ave. in Lorain, Hawks said.
“We’re hoping sometime in April, we will start getting the little houses built,” he said.
Lorain police traffic investigator Kyle Gelenius, who also serves as president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3 in Lorain, said the FOP donated money for the Lorain City Hall building, and International Association of Fire Fighters donated money for the fire station building.
“Other organizations in the community sponsored the remainder of the new buildings,” Gelenius said. “It’s a collaborative effort between the building trades and organizations in the city. Sponsorships are still available.”
He estimates roughly the new Safety Town cost about $20,000.
The grand opening is planned at 9 a.m., June 19, for the first day of Safety Town, Gelenius said. The public is invited.
Applications for Safety Town are available at Lorain City Schools Administration Building at 2601 Pole Ave. in Lorain, and at Workers from Lorain’s Street Department construct a storage facility for the city’s new Safety Town location on the grounds of Lorain High School, 2600 Ashland Ave., on March 23.
Lorain Police Department records window.
Children who qualify are entering kindergarten in the fall 2017, or first graders who may have missed Safety Town the previous year.
The program offers 40 openings from 9-11:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday, with four sessions; one in June and three in July, on a first come first served basis, Gelenius said.
“Every class seems to have something that surprises you,” he said. “I enjoy interacting with the kids. It’s nice to see them in the community or schools afterward. They always come up to you and say, ‘I remember you.’”
Lorain police officer Jesse Perkins and his canine partner Scotty, a German Shepherd, will provide a highlight of the week for the youngsters, Gelenius said.
“He puts on a mini canine demonstration, then he lets them interact with Scotty and pet him and pose for photos,” Gelenius said.
“We’re looking to do a little thing different with the fire department this year.
“They have a demonstration with LifeCare Ambulance so kids won’t be scared if they need to interact with them in an emergency. Hopefully, the lessons will stay with them throughout their lives so we don’t see any tragedies occur.
“The Girl Scout volunteers who run around with the kids and try to keep them in line are looking forward to it, too. We’re going to have a brand new Safety Town, and we’re using a new Lorain High School for the classroom portion of it. We’re going to tweak the program a little bit and do some fun, exciting stuff.”
union will build some of the buildings, while Foti Construction masonry workers will return to build a couple of brick buildings, he said.
Mosser Construction and Terminal Ready Mix donated the concrete slab for Safety Town, Hawks said, adding Electrical Corporation of America and an electricians’ union will wire and light the town.
“This is just the beginning of it,” he said. “We’re going to do a big open house and ribbon-cutting. It’s been quite a project in donations. It will have working lights.
“The city painted the striping on the concrete already. It’s a project between the city and schools and all the trades.”
One of the buildings will represent the former Carnegie Library, which now houses Lorain Historical Society.
“We’re really excited about it,” Hawks said. “It will be nice, and there will be room to grow.”