Belmar Beach playgrounds closed

[John Gazire]

OK I didn't see any info in the paper but heard about it from word of mouth. We went to Belmar yesterday and noticed all the swings were removed and all the beach playgrounds were fenced up. When asking around we heard some lady put her fat oversized kid on a swing and it broke so now she is suing the town. Due to the lawsuit the Township removed the swings and closed the playgrounds.

[Pat Garaffa]

John,

This is so typical of the rampant stupidity and greed we see everyday.  Everyone is out for the big money grab and there is no personal responsibility.  If they can't get it one way, they will try another until they succeed. 

And I'm sure she is also suing McDonalds because they made her fat kid fatter and caused the swings to break. 

But this could also "swing" both ways.  I wonder what the condition of the swings were at the time they broke?  Maybe her little chubster broke it but was it in decent working condition when that happened?  Or was it on borrowed time like everything else?

This is maintenance performed by township workers.  They may have the advanced skills necessary to tighten a bolt or inspect a rusty swing.  But the desire and oversight is always lacking and the equipment falls apart before anything is done.  Then along comes the little blobster and we have a flabulous crash! 

Have you seen the tennis courts at Monmouth Riding Park lately?  Or the farming display my son built on the corner of Preventoriam and Old Tavern?  I rest my case. 

[John Gazire]

Went to Pete and Elda's for Pizza then to Belmar to watch the surf. They had lifeguards and police keeping everyone about 10 feet from water's edge. Looks like most of the playgrounds were back open except for the one where the accident occurred. All the sets along the beach have been replaced within the last few years and look to be pretty well maintained.

As for Howell I know Davide was suppose to have all the playground equipment inspected and there were a few upgrades. I know if you go to the main Township website there is a section with all our parks and updated pictures of signage and equipment. If there are any that are not up to standards I would suggest sending and email to the Parks and Rec dept and forward to the Rec Advisory so we can follow up.

[Jackie Everitt]

Mom & Dad took Cailyn and Robbie Friday afternoon also - they said they only saw one roped off. 

I have to say that on Thursday we avoided walking past any of them - it was late and you know that once the kids see a playground - you are going to be there for a while.  Then when we were right near one was when the search was going on so I didn't notice.  Someone at work said that they did it because of the predicted weather and when they realized on Friday that Earl was dying put them back up - but had also heard that I kid fell off a swing and got hurt, so who knows. 

I hate to say this but it had to have been one big fat kid - I was just at the park on 537 in Colts Neck (forgot the name) but I was running around doing everything with Robbie and if this big fat butt didn't break anything that kid must have been huge.