BCAT News

The Burlington Police Department has been working to keep kids safe with a special program for half a century. 

The Department, in partnership with Burlington Mall, has announced that the 50th annual Safety Town will be held next month.

Safety Town is a child-sized town with buildings, crosswalks, street signs and traffic signals. Area children entering kindergarten or first grade will be taught about pedestrian, traffic, and bus safety. Burlington Police Officers will teach children about proper conduct, and the correct way to get on and off school buses.

Safety Town will hold classes on Aug. 17, 18, and 19, both at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Classes are limited to the first 20 children registered.

The Department and Mall also will host a special Caring Safety Town, designed for children on the autism spectrum, on Friday, Aug. 20, at 9 a.m. Caring Safety Town is open to the first six to eight children registered.

Parents are asked to make sure their child is wearing sneakers and brings a bicycle helmet.

“We are proud to have presented Safety Town for 50 years, ensuring that children throughout the area learned how to be safe on their bike or on a school bus,” Police Chief Thomas Browne said. “The Department is grateful to have a partner such as the Burlington Mall, which has been generous in offering its time and space for this important program.”

Safety Town classes are held at The Village at Burlington Mall, 85 Middlesex Turnpike.

“Burlington Mall is honored to host events for families and values our community partnerships with First Responders. It’s exciting to host a program for 50 years and now see multiple-generation families graduate from the program,” said Sheila Hennessy, Director of Mall Marketing at Burlington Mall.

Safety Town is open to all incoming kindergarteners and first-graders. Interested parents may sign up their child here for Safety Town or Caring Safety Town.