Above / When it’s leaf collection season, be mindful that leaves can be slippery under foot and under wheels of vehicles. When it’s raining, slow down to navigate falling leaves that line the curbs and corners. Keep storm drains clear to prevent flooding. October is public safety month in Naperville, but it’s up to everybody to keep the community safe every day of the year.
Naperville Public Safety Month winds up on Halloween
Nearly every weekday, 38 weeks a year, thousands of youngsters in Naperville head to and from school along designated school walk routes that have been mapped out by local officials to keep kids safe.
And every school day adult crossing guards, trained by the Naperville Police Department, are ready to greet the students at the intersections of major streets before and after school in accordance with neighborhood school hours.
As Naperville Public Safety Month begins its final week for 2017, here’s a big shout out in appreciation to all the reliable crossing guards who arrive in plenty of time to perform their duties in all kinds of weather.
Thanks to dedicated school bus drivers, too, for keeping school children safe.
Families depend on all the friendly help along the way. Thank you! Thank you!
Crossing Guards & School Walk Routes
Did you know? School Walk Routes were developed through a cooperative effort between the City of Naperville’s Department of Transportation and Engineering, representatives from each of Naperville’s two school districts and the Naperville Police Department. The city updates the routes as necessary.
The speed limit on all neighborhood streets is 25 mph unless otherwise noted.
A few locations throughout the city have School Speed Limit 20 MPH yellow flashers that activate when the guard is on duty. Many of the elementary schools also have volunteer adult traffic safety supervisors. These supervisors are recruited by the individual schools to assist with school safety in front of the school and at nearby crossings. The Naperville Police Department trains volunteer supervisors and also arranges for the School Crossing Guards.
In addition, a number of the crossing guards take on double duty as friendly lunchtime helpers in the cafeteria, getting to know the kids in the most familiar ways. Anyone who has ever watched students cross and greet the crossing guards has witnessed the special, kind relationships most of them share.
Maps of the school walk routes and traffic control plans are available in PDFs on the city’s website.
Special October events focus on safety
The entire month of October is dedicated to public safety education in Naperville. The Naperville Public Safety Open House held on Oct. 22, 2017, after a stormy rain out when originally scheduled a week earlier, welcomed families to meet and greet members of the Naperville Police and Fire Departments, dedicated men and women who keep the community safe.
Many other public events, some with a nominal fee, have been scheduled around town to create awareness, offering opportunities to engage in safety activities designed to educate all ages.
As the colorful leaves fall and pile up along the curbs, remember never ever to park on top of the leaf piles.
Five years ago on Halloween, PN caught the horrible sight of a vehicle that had been parked atop dry leaves waiting to pick up school children. Fortunately, everyone got out of the van just in time.
10AM-2PM Sat., Oct. 28, 2017 / Trick or Treat at Safety Town / The Naperville Junior Womans Club will host its annual Trick or Treat at Safety Town from 10AM-2PM Sat., Oct. 29. Admission is $1 per person and a nonperishable item for Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry. Safety Town also is located on the Naperville Public Safety Campus at the corner of Aurora Avenue and River Road.
4:30-8PM Tues., Oct 31, 2017 / While the City of Naperville has no set hours for door-to-door trick or treating, most families adhere to the hours that end at 8PM. Residents are reminded to stay safe while trick-or-treating.
If you still need a stash of treats for the costumed kids likely to arrive at your doorstep, check out the displays at Oswald’s Pharmacy in Naperville Plaza for candy, stickers, glow sticks and other novelties that make great giveaways on Halloween evening.
Plus, glow sticks and flash lights help illuminate trick-or-treaters during their treks on Halloween night.
Drive safely!
Remind young drivers that the speed limit in Naperville is 25 mph unless otherwise posted.
Note lower speed limits in school zones.
Alert young drivers who might be driving during their first autumn leaf season to be mindful of slippery leaves at stop signs or when navigating around corners.
Watch out for trick-or-treaters on Halloween evening.
Leaf collection now in progress
For the schedule of the six-week Naperville Curbside Leaf Collection that began on Oct. 16, 2017, click here.
The schedule also includes safety precautions that will help prevent fires and flooding.
Thanks for reading and for sharing safety tips with the youngsters in your life.
RELATED POSTS / By PN Columnist Soraya McLaughlin for the Naperville Fire Department
RELATED POSTS / By PN Columnist Jule Smith for the Naperville Police Dept
