State legislation closes pool’s water slide – Chanute Tribune

GREG LOWER

greg@chanute.com

The closing of Chanutes water slide was because of state legislation that stemmed from a fatal accident in Kansas City last year.

Chanute Parks Director Todd Newman told the Parks Advisory Board at its monthly meeting Thursday evening that the local water slide closed Saturday, along with all others more than 15 feet high in the state.

Gov. Sam Brownback signed the Kansas Amusement Ride Act and the Amusement Ride Insurance Act on June 26. The amendments prohibit an amusement park ride operating without a permit issued by the Kansas Department of Labor, which includes water slides at least 15 feet high that use water to propel patrons through the rides.

In August, the 10-year-old son of a Kansas legislator died in an accident at a Kansas City water slide at Schlitterbahn Amusement Park. That slide has since been torn down.

Newman said the KDOL has not hired an inspector to issue permits. The water slide at Chanutes Maring Aquatic Center is about 20 feet high, he said.

Parks board members also discussed the issue of hypodermic needles that had been found in parks, an issue raised at a recent city commission meeting.

Newman said the parks department has dealt with the issue every day for at least two years, and he has talked about it with Police Chief Raymond Hale.

The problem of needles in parks is random around the city and not confined to particular areas, board members said, and it is not unique to Chanute.

Theres a lot of people using needles, Newman said. Its a scary deal.

Board members agreed it is a matter for police. Although they said they did not want to discourage parents from taking children to the park, nor encourage drug abusers to go to parks, they urged people who find needles to contact the police non-emergency number, (620) 431-5768.

Newman also updated the board about restroom renovations at Santa Fe, Highland and Katy parks. The Highland and Santa Fe park renovations were approved at the last city commission meeting, and the projects are estimated at about $15,000 per park.

Newman said he talked to Overland Park landscape architect Vance Rzepka, who visited Chanute, about designing new ballfields. Rzepka will have designs by the end of the month and will submit a bid for approval before officials see the plans.

He also updated board members about plans for the Highland Park playground, which will be about 4,000 square feet. Newman said he hopes to keep the Highland Park playground project under $200,000, and hopes to begin work this year and the ball complex the following year.

Board member and city commissioner Jim Chappell raised his concerns about the Chanute Recreation Commissions use of park areas. Board member Jane Brophy presented draft versions of a park brochure.

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State legislation closes pool's water slide - Chanute Tribune