THE ISSUE: Recently, a 23-month-old boy was playing with a group of children in day care at the Columbia Association playground near Lake Elkhorn, when he wandered away and drowned in the lake. Several people are pushing for a fence around the playground, which they say is unsafe. Do you think the association should build a fence?
Fencing best solution to problem at lake
I think by now almost everyone is aware of the dangers at the Lake Elkhorn playground. In fact, so many people have contacted me that we had to set up a Web site (http:--groups. yahoo.com/group/fence- lake-elkhorn-playground). If CA leaders were not aware of these concerns before, they must be now - not only because of Alex Ferrera's tragic death, but because they now have been presented with a petition by more than 200 people asking that CA fence the playground.
CA has asked its staff to look into the alternatives for addressing safety concerns there, including fencing, landscaping and even removing the playground. I look forward to seeing what ideas CA staff recommends. However, I feel that while appropriate landscaping may be helpful in some settings, the unique dangers at Lake Elkhorn make fencing the best alternative.
The Lake Elkhorn playground is surrounded by dangers: the lake/dock area, Cradlerock Way, the parking lot and the woods. Having multiple dangers makes supervising multiple children much more challenging, if not impossible. No one can keep an eye on more than one child at a playground 100 percent of the time, and little ones can slip away so fast, even with the most vigilant supervision. A fence with a single, self-latching gate will make it possible for parents and caregivers to supervise more than one child.
Jennifer Terrasa Columbia
Don't take chances; lake, road both risky
I agree with building a fence around the playground at Lake Elkhorn. Not only is the lake close, but turn the other way, and there is a frequently used road. Our children are precious. Please don't take a chance with their lives.
J.A. Wilson Columbia
Add playground fence, railing to bridge, dock
I am a Columbia resident and mother of two small children. We visit the Lake Elkhorn playground two to three times a week. I strongly feel there needs to be a fence around the playground as well as a railing along the dock and bridge at the lakefront. We need this to prevent another tragedy like the one that happened recently. Removing the playground altogether neither solves the problem nor serves our community.
