911 TRAIL SAFETY MARKERS

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

The Kansas City Regional Trial Safety Initiative 911 Sign Project is intended to serve the visitors to parks and green spaces throughout the Kansas City Metropolitan area. The signs provide geo-referenced locations, so that in the event emergency services are needed, the patrons of parks and trails may communicate their locations to 911 dispatchers via the unique identifications number on the nearest 911 marker sign. This project was initiated in May 2008 by the Johnson County Park and Recreation District in partnership with the City of Lenexa, Kansas following a meeting with representatives from five additional Johnson County cities and the Office of Johnson County Emergency Communications. Soon after, it was realized that the initiative would benefit a broader region, beyond Johnson County. Cell phone calls to 911 complicated the process of getting emergency calls routed and rerouted to the appropriate dispatcher. A truly effective system would need the capability to cover the entire Kansas City metropolitan area. As a result, multiple requests have been received to expand the trail sign program to additional trails. A second phase of trail signs will be installed on additional trails beginning in 2010.