SOLEDAD — Soledad Youth Council is leading a comprehensive Street Safety Initiative for the 2025-26 year focused on identifying and addressing pedestrian and traffic safety concerns throughout the city.
Since launching the initiative in October 2025, Youth Council members have spent the past several months conducting field observations and analyzing streets and intersections they believe present safety challenges for youth, families and the broader community. This work has included documenting visibility issues, traffic patterns, crosswalk conditions and factors that impact pedestrian safety.
In December 2025, the Youth Council met with the Soledad Police Department to gain insight into traffic enforcement trends and safety concerns from a public safety perspective. The group is currently preparing a formal presentation for the city’s Public Works Department, with a meeting scheduled for February, to share their findings and learn more about how street safety improvements are evaluated and implemented.
“The goal of the initiative is to create a collaborative, citywide approach to improving street safety through youth-led research, interdepartmental partnerships and community education,” according to a city news release Jan. 21.
In addition to research and site assessments, the Youth Council’s Outreach Committee is developing a Street Safety Campaign aimed at educating elementary and middle school students through peer-based learning opportunities. The campaign will include youth-created social media content, educational videos and other outreach activities designed to promote safe behaviors for pedestrians and drivers alike.
“This initiative reflects the Soledad Youth Council’s commitment to meaningful civic engagement and long-term community impact,” said Jessica Potts, director of the Soledad Parks and Recreation Department. “They are not only identifying issues but learning how to work within city systems to help shape realistic solutions.”
The Street Safety Initiative will culminate in a formal presentation to the Soledad City Council later this spring, where the Youth Council will share their research, community feedback and recommendations for future action.
Soledad Youth Council is a youth leadership and advisory body supported by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. Members work to elevate youth voices in local decision-making and develop projects that benefit the community.
For more information about the Youth Council or the Street Safety Initiative, contact the Soledad Parks and Recreation Department at 831-223-5250.
