Committee: Lansdale Not Responsible for Injuries Suffered in Its Parks

Get injured in Lansdale's parks, and it's on you.

A discussion over more safety signage specifically in Lansdale's Stony Creek Park highlighted the start of the parks and recreation committee meeting this month.

In the end, parks and recration director Carl Saldutti advised he would look into the possibility of adding more signage to the parks to let users know that use is at their own risk.

Resident Anne Scheuring said numerous residents have approached her recently as she walked in Stony Creek Park about safety concerns in the borough's parks.

"They want to know if we (Lansdale Borough) are responsible for injuries in the park. If kids get hurt, is the borough responsible?" Scheuring said.  

"No," said Saldutti regarding responsibility of the borough for injuries. "The people are responsible for their own actions."

"There is not a specific sign that says that," he added.  

Scheuring said there are no signs that advise "No Swimming" or "No Boating" for the pond in Stony Creek Park.

"They want to bring their boats. One lady wanted to get her kayak. I said, 'You can't put your kayak in here.' But I've seen them before. Someone had a small canoe in there," Scheuring said. "Do we need a sign for stuff like that?"

There was also an issue with foul language in the park, she said. People told her that they have been fishing and witnessed children "running wild" and cursing, while their parents are nearby and letting it happen.

"This one mother said something that the parents should be watching their kids and their mouths, and the guy told her to go f--- herself," Scheuring said.  

Saldutti said park rules and regulations are posted in kiosks at the park. Scheuring said there was nothing about parents making sure their children are being attended to in the park at all times.   

Another concern, Scheuring said, are injuries on the grills in the park. There is also an issue with people throwing "junk" into the pond at Stony Creek Park.

"It's so ridiculous anymore, the way people are," she said. 

Committeeman Jason Van Dame suggested a sign that simply states, "Use At Own Risk."  

"You can't swim, you can't use a boat. Someone will get SCUBA gear and do that," he said. "You can't list everything you can't do." 

"Maybe we should empty the pond and fill it in and not have a park," rebuffed committee Chairwoman Mary Fuller.

Saldutti said Lansdale Borough could "load the park up with signs," but there's a theory that if you have too many signs, they get ignored.

"We need to capture the essence and message we want to get out, in the fewest amount of signs possible, in the fewest amount of words possible," Saldutti said. "People don't stand and read every sign."

Scheuring said the borough is kind enough to let people skate on the pond in Stony Creek Park in the winter. 

"I never heard of anybody complain, 'What if they fall through the ice and get hurt?' It's their own stupid fault," she said. "But if we're covered, it's fine." 

Saldutti said he would work with the parks committee on what more it would like to see in the parks system. 

"I'm thinking, it's gone this long ... I'd like us to proceed with caution with extra signs," Fuller said.

Fuller suggested asking the borough solicitor on what the liabilities are and if the borough is obligated to post more signs to warn people.   

There was also one final dirty issue with the parks—dog waste.

Saldutti said there are disposable bags for dog waste in the borough parks.

"I don’t think we should be providing that," said Fuller. "People should bring their own."

"They don't," said Scheuring. "A lot don't pick up." 

The issue of liability in parks came up three years ago for a couple municipalities in Luzerne County, Pa. that have skate parks.

According to CitizensVoice.com, the towns of Lansford, Hazleton and Tamaqua have signage in parks that not only advise skaters to wear helmets, but also provide other rules to abide by daily. 

According to the article, the park rules are meant to protect not just the user, but also the municipalities.

Hazleton, for instance, is protected from accountability for injuries via an exclusion for skateboarding in its general liability policy. Due to the signage advising people to use at their own risk, liability thus falls on the park users.