Case Date:

6/7/2021

I am a parent of three children participating in swim lessons at Bryan Park pool. I have several concerns with the lack of training and the ratios of children to instructors, especially in the level 1 class. The instructors are very nice, but clearly have not had instruction or training on how to conduct a swim class. My son in level one had about 14 kids in his class to one instructor. This is a safety issue in itself, but he also had very little instruction or even pool time during his lesson. He sat on the wall with his feet in the water 99% of the time other than when it was his turn to be dipped into the water for a few seconds. Additionally, in the toddler/guardian class, our poor instructor had just discovered she was teaching the class right before the class began. Needless to say, she was not prepared and did not have anything as far as activities pre-planned for the class. I understand that finding instructors may have been difficult this year, however, if a program is being offered especially ones that have a fee, I feel that there is an expectation for there to be some quality and training involved. Learning to swim is an extremely important skill that I would hope Parks and Rec would ensure to be a quality controlled program with many weeks prior training. Please consider implementing more staff and age and swim level specific training before swim sessions begin for these instructors in future sessions. Thank you for your time.

Case Date:

6/8/2021

Please turn back on the water fountains in the city parks. The CDS has advised that the risk of surface transmission of COVID-19 is minimal. Not having access to drinking water during these hot days is likely causing more harm than turning the fountains back on.

Case Date:

6/10/2021

There is an accumulation of sticks, trash, and general debris that has dammed the stream running alongside the B-Link Trail, approx. 600 feet from S Walnut Street. As of late, whenever we experience heavy rains, the water floods onto the trail itself, as photographed.

Case Date:

6/10/2021

I am quite concerned with the continued lack of on duty lifeguards at the Bryan Park Pool during swimming lessons. Three days ago (6/7/21), I almost ended up jumping into the water myself to save my actively drowning 3 year old because her instructor had taken a child to the bathroom leaving another instructor to watch both his and her classes, unsuccessfully. In my incident report, I stated that there needs to be a lifeguard on duty other than the instructors because they cannot reasonably be expected to see everything around them and it's not the parents job either. Mind you, I have many years of being both a lifeguard, aquatics director, swimming instructor, and outdoor educator under my belt when I say this. It's not just my opinion. I was told in a follow-up meeting the next day with the aquatics director, Shanda(?), that there would be a lifeguard on deck or in the chair from now on. This, unfortunately was not the case, yet again, at tonight's lesson. I have attached a picture (I hope) showing that there are no lifeguards in the stand or on deck anywhere near the active lessons. If the argument is that the instructors are also watching the kids, please refer to Indiana Health Code 410 IAC 6­2.1­35 Lifeguards (g). I am filing this complaint through the city not to be a pain, as I've dealt with my share of those over the years, but because I genuinely believe this is an unsafe situation based on experience. Furthermore, it clearly doesn't seem to be resonating at the facility level.

Case Date:

6/13/2021

Hi- Follow up on ticket 176107 that was resolved stating that I incorrectly used the term “irrigation.” Wanted to resubmit to say that the issue is a clogged drain causing a pretty deep puddle in the skate park when it rains. Was worried about all the kids, my own included, skating through it and not being able to see any obstructions in the water. Resubmitting as something other than “suggestion” and “irrigation” since it was pointed out that I don’t understand the definitions of those terms in the ticket response from before.

Case Date:

6/21/2021

The new dog park at Switchyard is very pretty, but it lacks basic amenities to make it really useable. At the Ferguson park there is access to water in the park (not outside the gates) and it’s a spigot that can be used to fill a bowl. The setup at Switchyard makes it basically impossible to spend more than a few minutes in hot weather. Also, it looks like there was a plan to have a dog rinse area like at Ferguson, but it’s just an empty vestibule. Could you at least run a hose as a temporary measure? Especially if there are going to be permanent mud puddles right by the entrance. There’s also nowhere shaded/sheltered in the park. The pergola over the outer seating area looks cute but isn’t very practical. I’ve hiked the quarter mile with my dog on weekend days only to find no one there and had to leave basically immediately because the park is essentially unusable on a hot sunny day. Everyone is at the old park on those days.

Case Date:

6/27/2021

After the last heavy rain in Bloomington, I noticed a large tree next to Jackson Creek on The Goat Farm is going to fall. The roots are showing and the tree is leaning over the creek water. It looks very dangerous because sometimes the children come to play in the water and they may get hurt. If no action is taken, the tree will fall down into the water and block the creek water flowing and cause more damage later. Please see the picture attached above.

Case Date:

7/20/2021

Water fountains at southeast park still have yet to be turned on. Will they be turned back on at any point? The fountain by the tennis courts was used heavily by many runners who no longer have access to water on their routes.

Case Date:

7/26/2021

We're moving into yet another period with dangerous heat indexes, and the water fountains at Southeast Park still remain off. Can these please be turned on ASAP?

Case Date:

7/28/2021

I submitted this issue already as a sanitation issue, but I was told that it is P&R's responsibility. So hopefully it will get routed to the right person this time. There is a drainage channel at the edge of Butler Park near 10th and Fairview that is clogged with stones and sediment from recent flooding events. It needs to be dug out to allow water to drain and avoid breeding mosquitoes. Location is halfway between Fairview and the path connecting Butler Park to the B line.