Sumpter Township Manager Tony Burdick has suggested prohibiting swimming in Sherwood Park in the community.
Burdick made the recommendation at the July 11 meeting of the trustees and explained that the ban was in response to weather conditions and an attempt to protect residents from health threats that the water could pose. Burdick said recent high temperatures during the summer season along with a lack of rain make regular testing of the water at the park necessary to ensure it is safe for swimmers. Each test, he told the trustees, costs the township about $150 and the necessity of testing continues to increase.
Burdick added that the laboratories responsible for processing the tests are also “running up against a time issue” with the level of testing throughout the area.
“We obviously all want it to be a healthy environment. We want it to be something our folks can enjoy,” he said. Burdick added that he thought the pond could continue to be used for non-motorized watercraft like kayaks and canoes which were approved for use last year.
Trustee Matt Oddy agreed with Burdick and noted that he had communicated with him about his fear of a health threat at the pond. He said he had sent Burdick multiple reports of health problems from contaminated water and that already this summer there had been an incident in a nearby community.
“I am concerned about the potential of what is in in the water that could make people sick,” Oddy said. “I think there is a liability there with no lifeguard on duty. We don’t have anybody there to say somebody is drinking too much or regulate alcohol that could be consumed. I think it's just bringing a liability to the township leaving it open to swimming.”
Oddy said he felt the township should learn from “what's happened in the local community. Let's not wait until something happens to learn a lesson from what's happened in other communities,” he said.
The board members took no official action on Burdick's proposed ban but residents will be advised to swim at their own risk during the upcoming parks and recreation department Family Fun Day set for noon until 4 p.m. this Saturday, July 22.
See story below for details.
