CITY OF SUN PRAIRIE TO ADJUST CROSSING GUARD PROGRAM IN 2027

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 13, 2026
Ashley Manthei
Communications Manager
amanthei@cityofsunprairie.com
(608) 608-0322 SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. – The City of Sun Prairie is updating its crossing guard program following a careful review led by the Sun Prairie Police Department, which evaluated traffic, safety, and operational data at
crossing guard locations throughout the community.

The purpose of this review was not to simply cut crossing guards, but to make sure we are putting crossing guards where they are most needed. Some locations will continue to have guards, some will
have reduced staffing, and some will no longer have a dedicated guard. The evaluation of the crossing guard program included the following factors:

• Student and pedestrian crossing volumes
• Roadway characteristics
• Traffic controls and patterns
• Speeds
• Crash history
• Existing pedestrian infrastructure
• Overall risk associated with each intersection

“Our goal is straightforward: to protect our students and pedestrians, to use objective information to guide our decisions, and to ensure that the City’s crossing guard resources are deployed where they provide the greatest benefit of safety,” said Sun Prairie Police Chief, Kevin Warych. “We are confident that these changes will not jeopardize safety, and we will continue to engage with our partners at them schools, monitor effectiveness, and make adjustments when warranted.”

It’s important to note that the absence of a crossing guard does not mean an intersection is unsafe. Every intersection is different and many have existing safety measures such as traffic signals, all-way stop signs, median refuges, raised crosswalks, or other infrastructure designed to help pedestrians cross safely.

For the remainder of 2026, all crossing guard locations will remain the same except for the reduction from two guards to one at the following locations:

• Main St/Walker
• Grand Ave/Blue Heron
• Windsor/N Thompson
• N Thompson/Pennsylvania

Additional changes scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2027, include:

• Discontinuation of crossing guards at:
  • Columbus/Church
  • North/MacArther
  • Brown Bear/O’Keeffe
  • Buena Vista/Walker
  • Grand Ave/Blue Heron
  • Windsor/N Thompson
• Staffing reduced from two to one crossing guards at:
  • Main/Walker
  • N Thompson/Pennsylvania

To learn more, visit www.cityofsunprairie.com/3142/Crossing-Guard-Program.
About City of Sun Prairie
Sun Prairie is a vibrant and thriving community located in northeastern Dane county, just east of the City of Madison. The City of Sun Prairie has experienced strong population growth since its incorporation from a village to a city in 1958, undergoing a transformation from a relatively small community of less than 4,000 to an estimated 36,394 today.