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Safety concerns arise on river
Published Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Photo by Zak Holtan
A bridge over the Otter Tail River just east of the River Inn in downtown Fergus Falls has long been a popular place for area teens to swim. People are concerned that a serious injury could occur as a result of diving from the bridge.
It’s on warm summer days that Maxine Adams notices it most.
From her windows on the River Inn’s south side, Adams can hear the shrieks and splashes of children jumping from a small footbridge into the waters of the Otter Tail River.
“I get the full noise and the worry and I’m a mom,” said Adams, whose office with the Lake Region Arts Council overlooks the footbridge and the adjacent Mill Street bridge in downtown Fergus Falls.
Playing and laughing is all well and good, Adams says, but the location is cause for concern. Fearing for the safety of the children outside her window, Adams would like to see the bridge closed or even removed to prevent a similar accident to the one that killed a young girl jumping from the bridge in the mid-90s.
Adams isn’t alone in her concern. The footbridge is property of the River Inn, owned by Wally and Patty Orfield out of Minneapolis since 2003. Patty Orfield says she and her husband have been aware of the situation for years, but efforts to keep people off of the footbridge have failed.
“There used to be a sign on it and that got torn down and we put plywood on the ends that got torn down,” she said. “Everything we put up gets torn down and thrown in the river.”
“It’s a pretty bridge but if it’s going to be dangerous we think it should be torn down,” she said.
Chief of Public Safety Tim Brennan said he’s not aware of a specific ordinance that prohibits people from jumping off city bridges. The only action police can take is to shoo jumpers away.
“We’ll get calls and we’ll go down if it’s young kids and tell them to leave and they’ll usually comply,” he said.
The bigger danger may not be as much the bridge as swimming in the water next to the River Inn and behind City Hall, Brennan said.
Adams said she has contacted council members on the issue and also plans to speak with Public Works Director Anne Martens about the sewer pipe that runs under the bridge. As a kind of liaison between the Orfields in Minneapolis and officials in Fergus Falls, Adams says she plans to do more research but hopes all parties can work together to find a solution.
“I don’t mind kids enjoying (themselves) and having a good time,” she said, but “The time to say something is now, not after something has happened.”
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by otterfan (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why does EVERYTHING have to be taken away from the children? I too was a child who used to jump from this "bridge". In fact we used to jump from the street bridge, which was obviously more dangerous. I guess I don't see a problem with it. But I am probably the only one in this town who feels this way.
Posted by tsy86h (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone know the story of the girl that was killed in the 90s? I don't know the story, but if she died because of jumping off of that bridge then it should have been taken down then! Does it take 2,3 or more deaths before it is done. How strong is the current in that spot anyhow?
Posted by lucky29 (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm glad the Daily Journal covered this story. The bridge jumping problem goes directly back to the City. First, there should be access to swimming within the City limits WITH Life Guards. Yes, there is the YMCA and the Middle School Pool, but open swimming times at these locations are just not adequate. The open swimming times are at strange and limited periods. Second, there should be an ordinance against bridge jumping in downtown Fergus Falls. One death is enough in the last 15 years. What will it take for our City Leaders to understand that our children should be our number one priority instead of such things as wasting money on a Christmas Tree and decorations. Which still is irritating...in this day of environmentally friendliness why didn't the city just decorate one of the beautiful trees on the City Hall property?
Posted by Mom42 (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ditto!
Posted by bucksteel (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 2:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
otterfan - this is a new era - we need to "protect" our kids from anything and everything, 24/7/365. Can't trust them to swim on their own without getting hurt. Have to buy them everything they want, when they want it, so as not to hurt their self-esteem. Tell them that they are right, even when they are wrong. Hover over them at all times, 'cuz that's what good parents do these days. Then when they enter adulthood and struggle on their own in the "real world", we wonder why?
Posted by Callie25 (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with Lucky 100%. In the summer, kids want to swim outside, not in the school or at the Y.
Posted by rodentboy (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i guess the kids will have to go a couple blocks down river to bare ass beach like we used to.
Posted by Lala (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 3:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I used to swim on this bridge when I was a kid too. But now that I have a 10 year old who wants to swim there, I have my hesitations. Hopefully the city will come up with somewhere for the kids to swim that is outside and safe! Does anyone know if Pebble Beach is going to be open this year??
Posted by tink (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 5:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lala can we afford it? The golf course might need more help. With all this rain there might not be as many golfers and revenue will go down.
Posted by fergus187 (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 6:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
so the solution is?
either we ignore the fact that this is a dangerous swimming area or we take away yet another on a very short list of things our kids can do?
can we afford to open pebble beach?
why does it have to cost anything to allow people to enter the water?
how about we say "swim at your own risk"?
what is causing the dangerous conditions around this bridge?
and better yet, "who really thinks it's an attractive looking bridge anyway"?
I say we just do our best to eliminate any dangerous conditions, talk with our children, and hope we've instilled whatever survival skills are needed to not perish while going for a swim this summer!
obviously younger children should be supervised!
Posted by JL (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 6:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Or how about we fix the bridge so that it isn't such a dangerous bridge? If it is such a hot spot for kids to jump off of lets not take it away, but make it safer to do so!
Posted by fergus187 (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 6:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
why do we need to provide lifeguards?
doesn't anyone spend time with their own children anymore?
I know I've never depended on a lifeguard to watch mine, but then again I bought a pool a few years ago and gave up on waiting for fergus to bother doing anything for my family!
so why should my taxes go to fund lifeguards, it's not like Fergus has ever done anything to benefit me or mine!
if you want somewhere for your kids to swim safely, then honestly your best option is buying your own!
I know this may not be in everyones budget, but neither is any other option apparently.
I don't know why we still expect anything from a city that has never provided much?
sure we pay our taxes, but what makes you think anyone really respects that anymore?
when is the last time you heard a taxpaid person thank you for their job?
Posted by 1125thmp (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 8:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Perhaps a study is in order.
Posted by momma29 (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 9:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I also used to jump off the footbridge and street bridges into the river downtown. Kids did it for years before me and the girl who died was young and from out of town. When I was young I had a friend drown behind Pamida...accidents happen...you cannot prevent everything. I have lived in this town my entire 29 years and watched this retirement town do everything it can to keep the kids at home and out of site. Remember the teen center, the roller rink, and all the other things there USED to be to do in this town? Maybe the golf course can cough up some cash for Pebble Beach to get its slides and stuff back in the water Or maybe lifeguards that can do their job rather than just yelling at the kids all day.
Posted by riverinn (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 9:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone have any feelings for the tenants of the river Inn who cannot get a descent night sleep when the kids & young adults are on and around the River Inn bridge area making all kinds of noise til the wee hours of the morning? Have a bit of consideration!
Posted by Lala (anonymous) on June 4, 2008 at 10:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I totally agree with momma29! It seems like everytime something opens up in Fergus for the kids to do, everyone else complains about it. And people wonder why the kids are downtown at the river swimming off the bridge? I'm happy to say that the new "Fasttimes" (at the old Steve's cycle building) is a great way to keep kids busy and out of trouble! I do agree that the kids should have respect for the residents that live in the River Inn, but if there was more recreational things for kids to do around town, maybe there wouldn't be so many down there swimming and being loud? I think the city should realize that there is more to this town than just retired people!!
Posted by tippy98c (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 7:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
removing the smaller foot bridge could deter kids to jumping off the larger Mill st. bridge.
Posted by davieboy (anonymous) on June 5, 2008 at 1:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It sounds like someone needs to invent an affordable, totally indestructable bubble, that we can put our kids, heck even us adults in, because we must be our own worst enemies. Apparently we can't be trusted to do even the most basic or simple thing without getting hurt or maimed. Then again, that's the way it's always been. It's always been up to us. You're either careful or you're not. If you're careful, you'll probably be alright if you swim........if you're not, then you'll probably have some problems. Life in general is pretty much like that, yet we now live in a society that feels that it has to protect us from everything.......especially ourselves. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of common sense anymore. How about this: If you're going to jump off a bridge.........be careful. If it's later on in the evening...try not to make so much noise, because if you're too loud someone might try to slap a muffler on you..
It's apparent the city isn't going to do anything to address the issue of the lack of things for our kids to do in Fergus Falls. If it cared about this issue,and all the complaints that have been raised over the years about it, maybe the town would still have a roller rink, all ice rinks would be open in the winter, the problem with Pebble Beach would have been taken care of a long time ago, we'd still have a teen center and Old Smokey, and a decent Mall where not only the kids could shop and not have to run to Fargo or Alex. for everything, but you also could buy decent mens clothes and.... I know this is a novel concept.. shoes! The city might even have as the Clampetts' would say " A Cement Pond". I've lived here over 30 years. I can't remember all the things this city has lost since I've been here. Didn't Fergus used to be a "Tree City" too? Anyway, we need to quit waiting for the "City Of" to get into the 21st century........it'll happen eventually. Probably by the 22nd century. Teach your kids to be careful.....be careful yourselves...spend time with your kids, your family. We went Aspargas picking last Sunday.....all of us.....We had a great time, found a few ticks and lots of Aspargas. The worst that happened to us was a small case of Poisen Ivy....We used up about 2 gallons of gas. By today's standards, for a family outing, it didn't cost much. Noneone told us we could or couldn't do it..We just did it and we were careful. Nothing bad happened. Get it?
Posted by tink (anonymous) on June 6, 2008 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We could always drive to Breck or Wahp and go swimming and to the zoo. As for a swimming pool here...all we need is a swimming pool. Not a water park. I would pay for a season pass for my kids. Momma29, my husband and I witnessed the yelling at the kids. They were jumping off the swim raft. Maybe they should have those lifeguards sitting by the bridge.
Posted by indyhockeygirl (anonymous) on June 6, 2008 at 8:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a hot topic indeed; unfortunately, there are a lot of risks that are being taken by the kids jumping off this bridge - boulders, undertow, currents - you name it. Then there is the case of liability - primarily for the individuals that own the bridge. It really stinks that one has to consider this, but - if someone can sue for millions because of coffee that is too hot (even when there is a warning on the lid), then I can guarantee that if a child so much as sprains an ankle or breaks a bone, (God forbid breaks thier neck or back, or even worse, dies) - someone will pay for the bill.
'Hold Harmless' waivers don't apply here, folks. There is no guarantee that these people (kids) know how to swim well enough to fight an unassuming current in case the river rose the night before due to a heavy rain.
Elimiate the possibility of another child getting hurt - there are plenty of other, more productive things for these kids to be doing.
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