Theresa sent this out this afternoon to the mayor and media after the tragic incident at Falls Park;
Dear Mayor Huether and Director Kearney,
I am writing to voice my concerns about the tragedy at the Falls. Â Citizens have also been expressing their concerns with adequate safety while preserving the beauty and access to the falls.
I am urging your support  of increased signage and a temporary barrier  during the spring season due to the  dangerous foam and slippery terrain at the site of the three tragic deaths. I will support appropriating funds to make these safeguards a reality, along with any effort to clean out the foam in the area.
A temporary Spring fence could be done in a way to enhance the beauty, while adding extra protection to visitors.
Our prayers go out to the family of visitors who lost their beloved daughter. Let us work as a community to ensure that this does not happen again.
Thank you for your consideration,
Theresa Stehly
I’m against permanent fencing, I think when they put up the chainlink fence around the Japanese Gardens at Covell Lake it ruined it.
I do agree though there should be a much bigger and prominent signage that is permanent, and maybe temporary fencing in the Spring when water levels are high around the dangerous areas. They have put in temporary fencing in the past after heavy rains. It’s not a matter of funding, the city has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars decorating Falls Park during the holiday season, we have the resources to put up temporary fencing. Another thing that could also be added to the larger warning signs is the potential hazards with just touching the water which has high levels of chemicals and E-Coli in it (the mayor has refused to put up the recommended signage in the past). If the rushing water doesn’t scare you, the possible health affects should.
It would be hard to clean up the naturally occurring foam.
But I also believe people must take some personal responsibility, and no amount of signage or fences can fix ignorance. If something looks dangerous, it probably is.