Granny’s ‘death trap’ fear
Safety concerns raised over new playground
A GOLD Coast grandmother fears a playground at Emerald Lakes Parkland is a disaster waiting to happen.
Kathy Gilchrist says she takes her four grandchildren to the new park every other day but is fearful that it’s not safe enough for young children.
“The design has kids nearly breaking their necks. From the open areas at the top of the play area, there’s a 2-3m sheer drop,” she said.
“The council, in their wisdom, have put orange plastic tape across it but still opened it last week.
“It is certainly a death trap for little kids and should be addressed before someone gets hurt or even dies.”
She said she was always at the side of her four grandkids, two three-year-olds and two four-year-olds, but that it was not always possible to be everywhere at every time.
According to a council spokesperson, the playground equipment meets
Australian standards and “an independent playground expert has certified the playground as being safe”.
“Safety is the city’s number one concern,” she said but confirmed that “the city has chosen to isolate a section of the playground to conduct a further design review to address community concerns”.
Mrs Gilchrist added: “There’s often 20 kids this age up there all the time and we’re all so worried for them.
“It’s such a shame as it’s really a lovely new playground. We just want the council to make it safer for our little ones.”
Dozens of concerned parents shared Mrs Gilchrist’s concerns on the Bulletin’s Facebook page. One parent said she saw a little tot fall head first on to the ground, while Julie O’Rourke said the playground was an accident waiting to happen.
Sharni Seeney said the park was good for older kids but she wouldn’t be back with her four and two-yearold.
SUZANNE CORNEY: “Helicopter parents ... if your marshmallow can’t deal with it then don’t take them there ffs. We used to climb trees way higher than that.”
ELIZA SMITH: “The park is great but that gap on that bridge is beyond unsafe for all aged children. How hard is it to just make a few more rungs on the sides of the bridge to stop any kids from falling through the gaps?”
WAYNE CRADDOCK-MCEWEN: “The park is awesome, but the bridge just needs railings. Other than that, my kids 2 and 6 years of age, love it .”
TRUDY HEARNE: “That wouldn’t be safe for my kid, so we would just use a different playground. It’s safe for older kids.”
JULIE O’ROURKE: “The park is a great investment for kids. The higher part needs to be separate from the ramped parts for the younger kids. It’s an accident waiting to happen. It’s not that we are babying our kids but keeping them safe, as a grandparent who takes a two-year-old to the park!”
SONYA G: “We went the first weekend it opened and as soon as my husband and I saw it we watched on and within 15min a little tot had fallen headfirst on to the ground. It’s very narrow and when older kids run across it they kind of bounce the littler ones off.”