Nassau Reopens Renovated Safety Town For County Kids

EAST MEADOW, NY — On Monday, the Nassau County Police Department and the NCPD Foundation cut the ribbon on a fully renovated and refurbished Safety Town, the county's educational facility on traffic safety for elementary school children.

The Safety Town renovations was possible thanks to a $110,000 donation from FirstNet, Built with AT&T.

Built in 1972 and operated by the NCPD, Safety Town is an educational center and miniature village that provides children with a variety of public safety learning experiences. Each year more than 10,000 third graders from across Nassau County visit Safety Town and are taught traffic, pedestrian, and bicycle safety by NCPD Crossing Guards — first in a classroom, then through a unique “hands-on” experience using bicycles and miniature electric vehicles.

“Safety Town is a very important piece of community training for the NCPD and at 50 years old, was in a desperate need for a renovation," said Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. "I am so thankful to our foundation and FirstNet, Built with AT&T for their generosity ensuring this revitalization occurred."

A 10-year analysis of bike accidents in Nassau County found that children who attended Safety Town were more than 10 times less likely to be involved in a bike accident than a child who did not receive the training.

The donation from AT&T allowed the NCPD to revitalize the aging center. Work included removing and replacing 22 dilapidated buildings, adding professional landscaping throughout the campus and repairing and beautifying other critical infrastructure elements. The new and improved Safety Town was carefully planned to ensure children can learn traffic safety for at least another 50 years.

“Having gone to Safety Town as a child, I am especially happy that the Foundation is continuing this tradition,” said Eric Blumencranz, chairman of the NCPD Foundation. “We are grateful for the generous support from FirstNet, Built with AT&T, that brought this important community training facility into the 21st century. Safety Town is vital to building relationships between law enforcement and youth and we are proud to be involved in such an important endeavor.”