GALION—The Galion City Council Parks and Recreation Committee held a special meeting Tuesday night. The topic of discussion was safety concerns at the Splash Pad in East Park.
An incident occurred on June 2nd when a young child got through a gate to the water storage tank.
The gate to the parking lot that remains open at all times is also a concern.
Attendants working the splash pad are trained in first aid and CPR but are not required to be certified lifeguards.
From the inception of the splash pad, the staff has been responsible for testing the water three times a day and cleaning the bathrooms every two hours.
Suggestions from the YMCA staff included using a second gate entry out of the sight of the patrons to test the water. That would create a more extended period with the splash pad unattended.
Other possibilities include signage to inform parents when staff is testing water or cleaning bathrooms. The committee discussed adding warning signage and alarms not to enter the gate.
Galion Mayor Tom O’Leary noted that this was an isolated incident and that parents are attentive to their children and grandchildren as they play. He told the committee that most kids at the splash pad are under nine. “As a rule, they do a good job and watch their kids,” O’Leary said.
O’Leary told the committee that the city would review all its recommendations to ensure the splash pad is safe for the children. “Go out there and spend some time. It’s a pure joy to watch them. It’s good for the kids,” O’Leary said.
