Mayor Johnson, Chief Garcia, city leaders launch second annual Summer of Safety campaign
Summer of Safety encourages the participation of Dallas’ young people in the city’s free and low-cost activities.
DALLAS — Mayor Eric L. Johnson, Police Chief Eddie Garcia, and other city leaders on Tuesday announced the second annual Summer of Safety campaign in the Vickery Park Branch Library. First launched by the mayor and police chief outside of South Oak Cliff High School in June 2022, Summer of Safety is an initiative to encourage the participation of Dallas’ young people in the city’s free and low-cost activities.
“Summer of Safety is designed to promote the safety of our city’s most valuable assets — our kids — by involving them in positive activities while they are out of school,” Mayor Johnson said Tuesday morning. “Summer of Safety is also a call to action. It is a plea to parents and community leaders to play a more active role in the lives of our youth, to involve them in enriching experiences, and to demonstrate to them that their well-being matters to the Dallas community.”
The media conference was hosted at one of the Dallas Public Library’s 30 branches to highlight the more than 300 free and low-cost programs the city’s libraries will offer kids and teens this summer, including language classes, art programs, and music lessons.
Mayor Johnson affirmed public safety remains his top priority and said this year’s Summer of Safety campaign is about building on the success Dallas has achieved. Dallas recently became the only top 10 city in the United States to record two consecutive years of year-over-year reductions in every major violent crime category. And last summer, violent crime lowered in Dallas in June and July, which are months historically characterized by increases in violent crime. “No other major city in the nation has seen results like this,” Mayor Johnson said.
The mayor highlighted his own initiatives and partnerships, such as SMART Summer with Mayor Johnson, a summer reading and education program for Dallas children; the Dallas Park & Recreation Department’s Teen All Access Pass, which gives Dallas residents ages 13–17 free admission to a collection of museums, water parks, nature centers, and other venues during the summer; and the Mayor’s Youth Sports Ticket Program, a partnership created to provide opportunities to the city’s youth to attend — for free — area professional, collegiate, and amateur sporting events.
Chief Garcia credited the men and women of his police department for their work to apprehend criminals and deter violence in Dallas. But he also said community engagement efforts are a key part of the Dallas Police Department’s strategy to keep Dallas residents safe.
“The men and women of the Dallas Police Department cannot lower violent crime alone,” Chief Garcia said. “I am proud to partner with the most supportive mayor of law enforcement in the nation to deploy community-based solutions that complement our department’s data-driven policing.”
The Dallas Police Department offers youth programing throughout the summer such as self-defense classes, midnight basketball, boxing programs, disc golf, movie nights, and kickball events.
Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD) Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde and the Deputy Director of the Dallas Park & Recreation Department, Crystal R. Ross, also shared remarks.
Dr. Elizalde said Dallas ISD stands ready to support the initiative and ensure its students and their parents are aware of the free and low-cost activities offered by the City of Dallas for them to enjoy during the school break.
Ross shared more information about the 10 family aquatic centers, 10 community swimming pools, and 17 spraygrounds maintained by the Dallas Park & Recreation Department in addition to the assortment of day camps and sports lessons offered at 43 different recreation centers throughout Dallas. She confirmed the wildly successful Teen All Access pass will return this year and that participating partners will be announced at the end of May.
“A Summer of Safety requires collective action from the entire Dallas community and begins with the involvement of Dallas’ youth,” Mayor Johnson said before proclaiming Summer 2023 as the second annual Summer of Safety. “Take note of all the free and low-cost programs the City of Dallas has to offer, spread the word, and make it your business to ensure our kids have a fun — and safe — summer!”
A complete list of free or low-cost activities offered by the City of Dallas for kids and teens to enjoy may be accessed here. Participating departments include the Dallas Public Library, the Office of Arts and Culture, Dallas Park & Recreation, and the Dallas Police Department. A media kit with a promotional graphic and public service announcements from Mayor Johnson and Chief Garcia may be accessed here.
