A letter of concern about dangerous playground equipment will be taken into account by the City of Parksville and Lions club.
“We have staff trained in risk management and, if through our normal review process, or if something is damaged, we deal with it,” said chief administrative officer Fred Manson.
The News received a letter to the editor from Lori Evans, suggesting that the orca in the Lions’ Ventureland water park in Community Park is slippery and “a definite hazard that is in need of some serious 20-year upgrading and financial attention.”
Manson said they do periodic reviews of everything in their system from playgrounds to sidewalks and buildings, with safety as a top priority.
He said they have removed or flagged off playground features in the past that were found to be dangerous or in need of repair.
The Ventureland equipment is purchased by the Parksville Lions Club and donated to the city once it is installed and spokesperson Duane Round said all the equipment is CSA (Canadian Standards Association) approved with safety as a major factor in their choices.
He said the orca has been there since before he got involved 13 years ago and he will bring it to the attention of the club as part of their longer term considerations, pointing out they replace and add new equipment as funds allow.
He said they do their best to design for safety, but things do get slippery when wet.
Parks superintendent Peter Crawshaw added that they have specific playground safety certified inspectors who check weekly and people should let the city know about any new dangers on any public property.
Neither Round or Manson were aware of any previous complaints specifically about the orca.