BY ELAINE STIEB
Lake Orion Review Editor
For 24 years Stan Ford has been working at Green’s Park and is worried that keeping the swim park open for longer hours will create safety issues.
Ford, the swim director at the park on M-24, asked Lake Orion Village Council members on April 26 not to open the park up prior to the swim season.
‘I have an obligation to maintain a safe facility. I’ve seen too many things. The attraction of water on a warm day is too much,? he said.
He mentioned the drowning of a 23 year old man in Oxford’s Round Lake just over a week ago.
Ford was the only person to speak out at a public hearing on possibly increasing the hours at the popular swim park.
The proposed changes included opening the park the Monday following Mother’s Day and closing it for the season on the Sunday after Columbus Day. The hours would also be extended until sunset rather than closing at 8 p.m.
Members of the parks and recreation committee had recommended the changes in park hours, saying village residents are asking to use the park more.
In the past Green’s Park has been open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Village officials are also considering posting signs that would say ‘No lifeguard on duty? and ‘Swim at Your Own Risk.?
‘A sign won’t stop somebody from swimming,? Ford said.
The parks and recreation committee have suggested that hiring a few people to act as park rangers while there are no lifeguards working would make the park safer.
‘I don’t know if a park ranger will work. Will he know what to do if someone’s in trouble?? Ford asked.
According to Ford, lifeguards are on the alert for any signs of alcohol use.
‘We enforce the non-alcohol use as much as possible. Still, they bring it in in coolers, even when we’re there. But, at least they know we’re watching. If no one was there, it would become more visible,? he added.
Ford said kids are always attempting to swim across the bay near the park, but if there’s a lifeguard on duty it tends to stop activities like that.
Ford said he hasn’t seen much interest in using the park after six o’clock. ‘Who says people want to be there? We haven’t seen it,? he added.
Ford was asked how many incidents his staff has to deal with in a season. ‘It’s hard to tell. We’re there to try to prevent them. But not once have we had to use CPR. We have helped tired swimmers get out of the water,? he said.
According to Ford, the park has high usage when swim classes start, right after school is out in June and tapers off the first week in August.
Councilman Douglas Dendel agreed with many of Ford’s comments. ‘The safety issue is the most important thing. We have to have control over the park.
‘We have had in the past. That’s why the park is in good shape. Bathhouses in some other parks have been destroyed. You’re inviting all the nearby communities around to come. You’re going to have tons of people, ‘he said.
Council member Charlotte Patton questioned the interest of having the park open longer. She pointed out no village resident came to the meeting to speak on the subject.
Council members are expected to make a decision on the hours at their May 10 meeting.