The Kentucky State Police kicked off the Kentucky State Fair Thursday with a grand re-opening and dedication ceremony for its new “Safety Town” exhibit. It is a perennial favorite with fair attendees for more than 50 years.
KSP Commissioner Rick Sanders hosted Miss Kentucky Katie Bouchard; Kentucky Venues President and CEO David Beck and Mr. Fair Bear, the Ky. State Fair mascot, at a red-carpet, ribbon-cutting ceremony. The first 100 children entering the booth received plastic KSP Trooper badges.
Sanders says the agency has a long history with the Kentucky State Fair with their first booth at the fair in 1949 stressing a highway safety message. Since then State Police has partnered with the Kentucky State Fair to present public safety messages that included highway safety, drug awareness, child safety and internet and social media safety.
KSP originally introduced “Safety Town” at the 1961 Kentucky State Fair. It featured pedal-powered kiddy-cars — some with the official KSP seal and vehicle striping — and streets lined with scaled-down buildings, stop signs and traffic lights. The basic concept remained the same throughout the years with only cosmetic changes and physical maintenance.
The Safety Town exhibit is in the South Wing Exhibit Hall, of the Ky. Exposition Center at the State Fair. It will be open during regularly schedule fair hours through August 26. The exhibit also features vintage and current KSP vehicles and various highway safety and drug awareness displays.