HAMMOND — Hammond Central School partnered with the St. Lawrence County Health Initiative, Clarkson University, and George Mason University to bring a rural traffic garden to the area.

The event was possible through a donation of $1,400 from the Claxton Hepburn Medical Center. The donation funded the bicycles and helmets that students will use on the creation of miniature streetscapes that are scaled-down versions of real-world rural, urban, and suburban environments, complete with road markings, signs, and crosswalks.

“Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center and the North Star Health Alliance are excited to sponsor this new traffic garden. Not only is this initiative fun for the students, but it’s also a great way to learn essential safety skills,” said Jessica Bowline, System Director of Marketing and Public Relations.

The outdoor traffic learning space offers children the ability to practice road safety, traffic rules, and the basics of navigating streets as cyclists, pedestrians, and future motorists. While traffic gardens can be found all over the world, the Hammond CSD traffic garden will be a first for rural communities.

Advocates for traffic gardens see the space as a way to encourage physical activity, outdoor play, and integrate biking as a mode of transportation for the community. Teaching students how to adhere to traffic laws at a young age will help to solidify the rules of their road before they navigate streets alone.

“With the help of the traffic garden, our students will be able to build their confidence riding bicycles and increase their understanding of traffic laws so they can be safe drivers and bikers when the time comes," said Hammond CSD Superintendent Lauren Morley.

The traffic garden contains roads with traffic lines, yield signs, traffic lights, speed bumps, and other features that allow young children to learn the rules of the road without the danger. The traffic garden is open to the public until Monday, June 24th; we invite others to come, use and explore this great space.