Splash pad makes waves at NOTL council

Regional Coun. Gary Burroughs came under fire from a Niagara-onthe-Lake councillor Monday following his request that the splash pad in Simcoe Park be turned back into a wading pool.

The water feature in the park had been used as a wading pool by generations of local children and visiting families until the end of June. After being informed of new provincial regulations on water safety by the Niagara Region, the town began operating the water fountain as a splash pad only.

Burroughs said he was speaking on behalf of neighbouring residents who want the wading pool reopened until the end of the summer. He denied that the Region ordered the town to close it unless a fence was erected around it and lifeguards were hired.

He said the new provincial guidelines are meant to prevent injuries and provide adequate water quality, but he did not see any references to staffing or fencing in the legislation when there is less than 30 inches of water in a wading pool.

“It’s actually more dangerous the way it is currently running,” said Burroughs.

Director of operations Sheldon Randall said there was “pretty clear direction” from the Region that the wading pool did not meet provincial guidelines. He said an inspection by regional staff June 22 showed noncompliance and that staffing and a fence were required if the town wanted to keep operating it.

Randall said the direction from the Region was that there were no other options for keeping the wading pool open.

“Coun. Burroughs could have called us and given us a heads up,” said Coun. Jim Collard, regarding his feedback on the issue.

He said he would also like the pool to be re-opened, but he believed that the town did what it was told to do by the Region last month.

“Coun. Burroughs should have known better,” said Collard. “He put us out on a limb tonight and tried to cut us off.”

Coun. Martin Mazza noted that they were hearing conflicting stories from the Region and town staff about the decision to close the pool. Council decided to ask town staff to meet with regional staff as soon as possible to determine if the wading pool could be re-opened for the rest of the summer.