City and School officials have been discussing the future of a new and improved Safety Town program for North Royalton children. It’s an offering that has been made available to children for many years through the work of the North Royalton School District and the North Royalton Police and Fire Departments.
According to North Royalton School District Assistant Superintendent Jim Presot, the program may have been started as far back as the 1970s and has been a staple to many children. It was originally housed at Valley Vista Elementary School. “In looking at our records, we have been averaging about 175-200 kids each year for the last ten years,” said Presot. In 2015, Safety Town was moved to the North Royalton Middle School and remained there until 2020. It was “then moved to Royal View last year due to the construction projects going on at Middle School. It is slated to be held at our new elementary building this summer,” according to Presot.
“I started with the support of the City and Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz, School Board Superintendent Mike Laub and the North Royalton City Schools,” stated North Royalton Fire Chief Bob Chegan in a post on the City’s website. “Our goal is to build a new Safety Town facility to support the educational component of our yearly program. This is a huge undertaking, and we are in the preliminary stages.” Chegan said that the North Royalton Safety Town that has been in place has never had actual buildings, just paintings on asphalt. Other communities, such as Brecksville and Independence have constructed actual buildings. Chegan met with Broadview Heights officials to get some ideas that could be incorporated into the new North Royalton Safety Town.
“We have to go over with the schools, how we are going to make that partnership work. It’s their property but our program,” said North Royalton Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz. “I think the Royal View property has been determined as the best property, they would have classroom access and then can walk them (the children) outside. “We’re trying to do it all through fund raising and donations. The chief has always wanted a nice safety town. I think the community is ready for that.”
“The North Royalton Browns Backers have come through to help again and started the first of a few planned fundraisers,” said Chegan. He said that Royal View is the tentative location, but is waiting on the schools to decide. “If not there, we’ll find another location,” said Chegan. “My goal would be 2023, but obviously I can’t predict what is going on, with supply and design issues. There still is a lot of planning to do and we are all busy.” Chegan thanked the Browns Backers for their recent fund raising efforts. “They were more than willing to help. They stepped right up to lead the charge,” He said that his next step will be working with an architect to design the new Safety Town. (See Browns Backers article)
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer