Layton Crossing Guard Celebrates The Season In Costume

LAYTON, Utah – Every day, there are many unsung heroes who work to make children safe while they are going to and from school. But in Layton this time of year, it’s the Grinch who is safely walking students across a busy street.

But to parents of these children, this crossing guard is someone they trust with their children’s safety, despite what she is wearing. And parents say this crossing guard works hard every day to make crossing Layton Parkway safe and fun.

“Every season or holiday she will dress up, either as the Grinch or Mrs. Claus or a reindeer. She has been a turkey, she has been the Easter bunny,” said Ericka Madsen, a parent.

Karen Caldwell lives in this neighborhood, and considers these kids she helps cross the road, as her own.

“Nobody wants to hit the Grinch so people do slow down,” she quipped.

Caldwell also has used her charm to make this neighborhood safer for these kids.

Grinch Crossing Guard

In recent years, the traffic on Layton Parkway had grown exponentially, and it became a big fear for parents, so Caldwell and other neighbors petitioned the city to put in a crosswalk here.

“They came out and did a traffic study and found that it was definitely needed,” she added.

Grinch Crossing Guard

So for the past year, parents say between having a crosswalk here and trusting the crossing guard, they have a lot of peace of mind.

“I don’t have to worry about crossing this dangerous street with Karen here, she makes sure that everyone gets where they need to be and with a smile and a lot of cheer with her costumes,” said Kristin Wynder, another parent whose children have to cross the street.

And at the end of yet another school day, “Kids and drivers have behaved, it’s awesome, a lot of fun,” Cardwell said.

She says she can go home, knowing all of the students have made it safely across the busy street.