Lions Splash Park safety issues addressed

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

Town council took a proactive approach last week in addressing an ongoing safety concern at the Lions Splash Park, where the original finish of the pad and its weathering raised unease among residents.
Staff investigated the concrete surface of the splash pad, which appeared to have some areas with a smoother finish, where some kids were prone to slide and fall.
“It’s been an issue on my plate for two years and I should mention that I’ve seen kids fall there, and of course at the splash park you are dealing with predominately young children,” said Councillor Bob Sobol.
“Although they’re not supposed to be running there, they are running there and there’s an area of that splash park that’s basically very slippery and last time I was there I observed parents putting towels down. I certainly appreciate what they are doing, and I certainly appreciate the concern that a number of parents have voiced about that area. I really do think that something has to be done.”
Council was provided with four options: leave splash pad status quo; apply six millimeter thick rubberized surface to the concrete pad; sand blast to open the pores in the concrete and seal to protect the concrete without leaving a slippery film; and pressure wash and paint with pool epoxy with grip agent.
According to Dave Rimes, parks supervisor for the Town of Strathmore, the pool epoxy application was the least preferable option due to constant maintenance.
“With that being an outdoor pad it does get moisture underneath, and I’m worried about the painted epoxy peeling,” said Rimes. “That’s my biggest concern with the epoxy and then you’re doing it every year. You’re touching it up. I’m concerned with the epoxy application and that’s why I didn’t recommend that.”
While some council members felt the rubberized surface, which has a lifespan of 10 years, was appropriate, others felt its sticky texture may result in similar situations of kids falling. Councillors were also concerned with the rubber attracting heat, yet being installed in a splash park seemed to reassure the local representatives that the water would cool the pad’s temperatures.
“I’m thinking that that is better than what we have right now, and I keep going back to the amount of children that we see running in the park on a daily basis and there’s tons of kids going through there,” Sobol said. “I guess I’m just trying to make sure that we provide as safe a surface as possible and I think the safest surface is the rubberized surface.”
However, Councillor Denise Peterson disagreed, proclaiming his statement to be a personal opinion and putting forth a motion to implement the sand blasting option. Council was reassured that a rubberized surface could be applied at a later time if the option proves not to be successful.
Council agreed for the work on the splash park to be completed this year and approved up to $11,500 to sandblast and seal the surface, with funds being drawn from the Financial Stabilization Reserve. Councillor Bob Sobol voted in opposition of the motion and Councillor Pat Fule and Councillor Rocky Blokland were absent during the April 6 meeting.