LONGVIEW/GREGG COUNTY (KYTX) - A nearly $1 million fundraising effort to renovate Longview's Safety City into the 21st Century got a big boost this morning from British Petroleum, which presented a check for $50,000.
Safety City is a child-sized city, a mini-Longview, complete with 16 small buildings representing a police and fire station, a train depot, a bank, a church, a hospital, and business and professional offices. The "city" simulates the real traffic environment of our community and includes an overpass and a railroad crossing. Working traffic lights and major traffic signs dictate the movement of pedestrians, bicycles and mini-cars operated by children.
Under a $966,500 plan, the City of Longview wants to include third and fifth grade classes with courses and activities in: fire safety interactive theatre, fire prevention puppet shows, fall and fire prevention classes for the elderly, safety awareness around oil and natural gas equipment, new parent safety classes, babysitting classes for teens, disaster preparedness, bus safety, outdoor science, special needs programs, summer safety programs, home and poison safety, weather safety and preparedness and a Code Red program.
Safety City recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. Since 2006, more than 9,000 students have attended classes at Safety City.
Along with the 2,600-square-foot Interactive Fire Safety Theatre, organizers want to add a more than 1,400-square-foot education station with a nature area, electric cars, enlarged roads and other items. The City of Longview has agreed to handle maintenance and utilities for the theatre.
So far, the city has raised more than $150,000 in cash and in-kind donations, according to Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary. He said construction could begin as early as late winter, with a planned grand opening next fall.
