Stop, drop and roll! I learned this lesson — and many more important safety lessons — at a Naperville Safety Town as a child. There are many miniature safety towns, villages and parks around Chicagoland, and each offers hands-on activities where kids can practice important safety skills.
Safety towns are educational centers where young children can learn and practice safety skills. They often feature miniature towns and streets where kids can do safety drills and practice pedestrian and bicycle safety.
Many offer summer camps or special sessions where kids can learn a variety of skills, such as how to cross the street and obey traffic signs, how to stay safe around strangers, what to do in emergencies and more. Other safety towns are more loosely-structured and are either open to the public or offer drop-in events.
It’s never too early to teach your littles important skills that will keep them safe throughout their lives. Get started with one of these safety towns, villages or parks in Chicagoland.
Safety Town Programs in Chicagoland
Arlington Heights Safety Town
- Address: Arlington Ridge Center, 660 N Ridge Avenue, Arlington Heights
Young children will learn the rules of outdoor safety through fun activities, guest speakers, videos and songs. They will also learn about traffic, bicycle and pedestrian safety by riding trikes through the miniature streets of Safety Town. Registration for the 2025 season opens in the spring.
Barrington Safety Town
- Address: 1301 S Grove Avenue, Barrington
Since 1997, this summer camp has taught vital safety skills to children. Kids will learn in a classroom setting and will also have an opportunity to put their new skills to the test by riding tricycles and walking through the streets of the miniature town. Week-long sessions are offered in the summer.
Downers Grove Safety Town
- Address: 4500 Belmont Road, Downers Grove
Children ages 5-6 will enjoy hands-on activities, presentations, songs, books and more that teach them important safety lessons. Kids will get to meet police officers and firefighters, learn about pedestrian, passenger and at-home safety, and practice their new skills in the mini town setting.
Glen Ellyn Safety Village
- Address: 185 Spring Avenue, Glen Ellyn
Help your child build a foundation of safety knowledge at this summer camp. Through play-based classroom activities, kids will learn how to stay safe, how police officers, firefighters and other public servants help our communities, and practice street safety by riding bikes in an outdoor learning area.
Hinsdale Safety Village
- Address: Oak School, 950 S Oak Street, Hinsdale
Hinsdale Safety Village attendees will learn a variety of life skills, from playground and train safety to how to greet strange dogs, stay safe around strangers and more. Kids will get to meet EMTs, police officers and other safety professionals.
Naperville Safety Town
- Address: 1320 Aurora Avenue, Naperville
- Offers open bike events
Naperville Safety Town offers a week-long summer program as well as open bike events for families. During the summer program, kindergarteners and first-graders will learn safety skills through games, guest speakers and hands-on demonstrations. Open bike events welcome children ages 3 and up to hit the ministreets of safety town and practice bike and pedestrian safety.
Ken Alley Safety Park
- Address: 421 N Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg
- Offers tours from mid-April through mid-October
Located behind the Pat Shepherd Early Childhood Center, this park has been teaching safety lessons to Schaumburg residents of all ages since 1997. The park is open for tours from mid-April through mid-October, and offers safety programs that teach pedestrian, bicycle, playground and fire safety skills for kiddos ages 3-7.
Safety Park (Cicero)
- Address: 5498 W 34th Street, Cicero
- Open to the public
Kids can play and learn about traffic safety at this free safety park. Enjoy the playground equipment, then walk or ride around the mini streets and buildings to practice pedestrian and bicycle safety with your kids.
Safety Town (Elmhurst)
- Address: 511 S York Street, Elmhurst
- Open to the public
Bring your kids to this adorable mini town to practice road safety. Walk on the sidewalks or bring a bike and helmet to practice crossing streets and railroad tracks. Summer camps are also offered for kids ages 4.5-6.
Safety Village of Darien
- Address: 7400 S Cass Avenue, Darien
Safety classes for kids 5-10 are held at this safety village in Darien. Younger children will learn about everything from outdoor safety and the buddy system to first aid and fire safety. Older kids will learn about these topics in an age-appropriate manner, including lessons on peer pressure, internet safety and staying safe when home alone.
Safety Village of Lemont
- Address: 55 Stephen Street, Lemont
Learn safety lessons from local professionals. Through hands-on activities, games and age-appropriate drills, kids will learn important safety skills, including traffic and bicycle safety.
Toohey Park & Safety City
- Address: 1900 Orchard Road, Wheaton
- Open to the public on Wednesdays from 5:30-7 p.m.
Safety City offers classes and birthday parties for kiddos ages 1-6. Field trips and scout badge workshops are available for older kids, too. Families with children ages 3-6 can drop by on Wednesday evenings in the spring, summer and fall to practice riding through the mini city. Bring your own helmet and bike, or rent a trike for $5.
Safety Village of Western Springs
- Address: 1500 Walker Street, Western Springs
This safety camp educates kindergarteners and first graders on up to 55 safety topics, including fire safety, emergency situations and poison control. Children will learn through books, games, demonstrations and emergency simulations. Safety Villages shows kids that safety can be fun, too — kids can drive pedal cars through a miniature Western Springs; the buildings in the tiny town are even decorated to resemble local businesses! Enrollment begins in early April.
Westmont Kids Safety Camp
Each summer, the Westmont Fire and Police Departments host a safety camp for 8-10 year olds. This is a more advanced safety camp than most safety towns. Participants will get to meet firefighters, police officers and other safety professionals and learn important life skills. Participants must either live or attend school in Westmont, or be involved in a Westmont-based scout troop.
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