Decatur Parks & Recreation Department Awarded the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Grant

The City of Decatur Department of Parks and Recreation is pleased to announce the receipt of a grant totaling $47,994 from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). This funding, provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), will enhance safety training for pedestrians and bicyclists through surveys, activities, and educational programs. The City will collaborate with various agencies to offer approximately 30 opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities to deepen their understanding of bicycle-related traffic laws.

Allen Poole, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “Part of the GOHS mission is to assist in implementing programs and campaigns designed to prevent crashes and eliminate traffic fatalities on our roads. GOHS will continue to build new partnerships and strengthen existing ones to create, refine, and implement safety programs, helping our state and nation work towards zero traffic fatalities.”

The Decatur Parks and Recreation Department is excited to have been selected for this grant award for the fiscal year 2025, which spans from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. The funding will facilitate targeted programs that align with the City’s commitment to improving mobility as detailed in Destination 2030, Decatur’s strategic plan adopted on October 18, 2021.

This GOHS grant will fund educational outreach and activities designed to positively impact Decatur’s residents and visitors. Our initiatives will include engaging activities in partnership with local schools and in collaboration with the Decatur Police and Decatur Fire Rescue.

This grant represents a critical component of our commitment to Decatur’s mission of promoting meaningful and sustained opportunities for community engagement, collaboration, and regional partnerships. We believe that the pedestrian and bicycle safety initiatives enabled by this grant will have a profound and lasting impact on our community.