The City of Dallas has announced the fourth annual Summer of Safety campaign, a citywide initiative to keep youth engaged, active, and safe during summer through free and low-cost programs.
The campaign, running from late May to early August, aims to promote public safety while offering learning, creativity, and recreation opportunities.
The initiative was announced at a press conference at Singing Hills Recreation Center, where Mayor Eric Johnson emphasized that public safety remains his top priority. He noted that Dallas has seen four consecutive years of violent crime reduction, with further declines during the summer since the campaign began.
“Public safety is my highest priority for Dallas, and the annual Summer of Safety is a critical component of the data-driven, holistic approach we take to public safety in this city,” Johnson said. “The Summer of Safety is also one of the many ways we show our youth that they are valued members of our community. We are keeping Dallas safe, helping our kids have fun during the summer, and instilling in our youth a love for Dallas by showing them that Dallas loves them.”
The 2025 campaign builds on past successes with programs like the SMART Summer reading challenge, the Teen All Access Pass, and the Mayor’s Youth Sports Ticket Program.
The Teen All Access Pass, available starting July 1 at city recreation centers, provides free admission for Dallas residents ages 13–17 to venues like the Dallas Zoo, Bahama Beach Waterpark, and Perot Museum.
The Youth Sports Ticket Program offers free access to local professional, collegiate, and amateur sporting events.
“This summer, our priority is clear: keep our city safe and our kids engaged. Violent crime is down – and continues to decline – not by chance, but through education, awareness, and collaboration,” Comeaux said. “Parents, community members, city leadership, and law enforcement are working together to keep our kids active, informed, and supported, while strengthening the neighborhoods we call home.”
The Dallas Public Library, with 30 locations citywide, offers free Wi-Fi, computer access, and hundreds of workshops and events.
The SMART Summer program, from May 31 to August 9, encourages kids ages birth to 18 to read, discover, and create to earn free books. A kickoff party is planned for May 31 at select libraries in partnership with Dallas ISD.
The library also provides free meals to kids under 18 at 15 locations; proof of need is not required. Teen-specific programs include Roblox workshops at the North Oak Cliff Branch and a Teen D&D program at the Pleasant Grove Branch.
The Culture Pass Dallas, a collaboration between the Office of Arts and Culture and the Dallas Public Library, offers library cardholders free access to arts and culture programming. More details are available here.
Dallas Park and Recreation oversees 42 recreation centers, nine community pools, 17 spraygrounds, three Cove aquatic centers, and the Bahama Beach Waterpark. Programs include Discover Dallas, a free summer camp for ages 5–12, and Outdoor Adventures New Horizons at Samuell Farm in Mesquite for ages 7–15, featuring activities like kayaking and archery.
The Best Buy Teen Tech Center provides a creative space for ages 12–17 to develop tech skills.
Counselor-in-Training programs at select recreation centers offer leadership training for ages 13–17. The department also hires over 400 seasonal employees for aquatics roles, with pay ranging from $19.83 to $23.
The Dallas Police Activities League (PAL) engages youth ages 8–18 through athletic, educational, and recreational activities like boxing, martial arts, and basketball training camps to foster positive relationships with law enforcement and promote personal growth.
A full list of the Summer of Safety 2025 activities is available online.