From left: Dallas police’s Evelyn Parris, McGruff, Sparky, Dallas Fire-Rescue’s Keith Wilson. Photo by Renee Umsted.
They’re at schools. They’re at Taste of Dallas. They’re at back-to-school events hosted by the mayor and Church of the Incarnation. And now, they’re at the Swiss Avenue Historic District Mother’s Day Home Tour.
McGruff and Sparky, along with their Dallas Police Department and Dallas Fire-Rescue spokespeople, will interact with visitors at the home tour. Though it’s not McGruff’s first time to appear at the home tour, this year marks Sparky’s debut.
Evelyn Parris, McGruff’s spokesperson, and Keith Wilson, Sparky’s spokesperson, will be with the mascots at Dorothy & Wallace Savage Park, at the corner of Bryan Street and Swiss Avenue, throughout the weekend event.
They’ll be available to take photos with families, pass out goodies and educate kids about safety.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to get out to engage the community,” Wilson said. “Through the use of Sparky, we’re able to provide a kid-friendly message to reinforce smoke alarms, to talk about evacuation and the need for individuals to actually practice fire drills at home.”
With thousands of people expected to attend, safety is a priority for the home tour organizers. Police officers will help direct traffic and make sure pedestrians are safe while crossing the street.
Dallas police and Dallas Fire-Rescue pose with Swiss Avenue residents David Dean (far left) and Zach Swanson (far right) at Savage Parker. Photo by Renee Umsted.
“It’ll be one of the safest places in Dallas,” said David Dean, the chair of the Swiss Avenue Historic District Alliance Against Crime.
It won’t just be McGruff and Sparky at Savage Park. Neighborhood police officers from DPD’s Central Division will have a table set up, passing out informational pamphlets and stickers. There will also be a fire truck, food trucks and live music, said Zach Swanson, who is co-chairing the home tour with his wife, Charlotte Kerr.
Seven homes, including one that turns 100 years old this year, will be on display. They represent some of the many architectural styles that define the homes in the East Dallas historic district, such as Craftsman, French Eclectic and Jacobethan Revival.
“The whole event is about celebrating the community, celebrating the neighborhood, and DPD and Dallas fire are huge parts of that neighborhood,” Swanson said. “We couldn’t live safely without them, so we’re really thrilled to be able to engage both DPD and Dallas fire to not just project but to come out and meet people, engage with the neighborhood and really interact.”
The Swiss Avenue Historic District Mother’s Day Home Tour is 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 13 and 12-6 p.m. May 14. Tickets may be purchased here.
