StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 840
Loc: East Side
Reg: 09-24-04
|
04-26-12 05:11 PM - Post#148480
When I went to daycare to pick up my child, there were signs all over saying that "due to the City of Allen's water restrictions, the day care will be unable to have Splash Days this summer." The day care has a splash fountain. Each class goes out for 10-15 minutes, once a week, to splash in the water. This is usually in the morning around 9am. So, we're talking 50-75 minutes a week.
The Stage 3 Water restrictions say that they "Prohibit the operation of spray ground recreation water parks that do not treat and recirculate water."
So, let me get this straight, the City, in an effort to save water, is hurting the children of working parents by not allowing them to play outside in water for 10-15 minutes a week, because those gallons of water for 1.5 hours a week for each day care with this system is going to drain the lake when there is no drought? Do I have that right? So, we can open the flood gates and send water to Dallas, but my kid can't splash in the water for 10 minutes every Friday at school?
We work for a living and have to send our kid to daycare. Splash day is his favorite, and he's been looking forward to those days starting in June. Now, they don't get them at all. We don't have time to take our kid to Celebration Park whenever we want in the middle of the day/week because WE WORK.
I'm all for water conservation around our house and only watering when necessary, but this hurts the kids. It's not that much, and I'm furious.
Just thought some of you might like to know.
|
SB
enthusiast
Posts: 1134
Reg: 09-07-03
|
04-26-12 06:21 PM - Post#148493
In response to StacyLynn624
You do understand that most of Texas is in extreme drought conditions, right? Without water business goes away and people go away. DFW has gotten out of the drought but it was very serious last year and nobody can predict that the rains we have had the past few months will continue this summer. Some of the factors in our water shortage still exist. An exemption here for the kids, another for some other situation, one for me so my grass can be a little greener and make me happy . . . and soon too few are conserving and we are back in a problem situation again. So make weekends special and make time to take your child to Celebration Park or the natatorium.
|
mgrayar
enthusiast
Posts: 3156
Reg: 09-25-09
|
04-26-12 06:30 PM - Post#148494
In response to SB
We have less water than ever due to the zebra muscle problem. Yes, we had to give water to Dallas due to our water contracts, but that does not mean we are free and clear for the rest of the year. Hopefully by limiting water use now, we can avoid going to stage 4. Believe me, nobody wants stage 4, but that is a real possibility if we have anywhere near the heat we had last year.
Learn more about Cystic Fibrosis and how you can help at:
http://www.cff.org
Everyone can make a difference! |
|
rw
member
Posts: 421
Reg: 10-11-01
|
04-26-12 06:40 PM - Post#148496
In response to StacyLynn624
When I went to daycare to pick up my child, there were signs all over saying that "due to the City of Allen's water restrictions, the day care will be unable to have Splash Days this summer." The day care has a splash fountain. Each class goes out for 10-15 minutes, once a week, to splash in the water. This is usually in the morning around 9am. So, we're talking 50-75 minutes a week.
The Stage 3 Water restrictions say that they "Prohibit the operation of spray ground recreation water parks that do not treat and recirculate water."
So, let me get this straight, the City, in an effort to save water, is hurting the children of working parents by not allowing them to play outside in water for 10-15 minutes a week, because those gallons of water for 1.5 hours a week for each day care with this system is going to drain the lake when there is no drought? Do I have that right? So, we can open the flood gates and send water to Dallas, but my kid can't splash in the water for 10 minutes every Friday at school?
We work for a living and have to send our kid to daycare. Splash day is his favorite, and he's been looking forward to those days starting in June. Now, they don't get them at all. We don't have time to take our kid to Celebration Park whenever we want in the middle of the day/week because WE WORK.
I'm all for water conservation around our house and only watering when necessary, but this hurts the kids. It's not that much, and I'm furious.
Just thought some of you might like to know.
Vent much?
|
StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 840
Loc: East Side
Reg: 09-24-04
|
04-26-12 07:33 PM - Post#148501
In response to rw
You do realize that all of the lakes are full, right? I'm not asking for all day everyday, but 15 minutes for some kids to have fun in the summer. This little line item is not present in Frisco's stage 3 restrictions. It discriminates against children who's parents both work all week. We pay taxes and water bills too.
It's shorter than some people's showers.
If they are going to limit this, they should ban the sale of slip and slides at target and Walmart too.
Letting the daycares run their splash parks for 15 minutes a day is not going to drain the lake. Give me a break.
It's about the kids.
|
StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 840
Loc: East Side
Reg: 09-24-04
|
04-26-12 07:37 PM - Post#148502
In response to StacyLynn624
Here's a link to the NTMWD's Stage 3 guidelines, with information about the zebra muscle issue at Texoma.
http://www.ntmwd.com/downloads/newsrelease s/drough...
Texoma's issue affects 28% of the supply. Hardly a majority.
|
RRRquilter
enthusiast
Posts: 1243
Loc: Allen
Reg: 05-02-05
|
04-26-12 07:51 PM - Post#148505
In response to StacyLynn624
If it is only once a week for 15 minutes I would think that you could probably go over the Celebration Park or the fountain at the Village of Fairview in the evening or on a weekend. Eat a little dinner on the patio of The Purple Cow and let you little guy play in the water or take a picnic to Celebration Park and let him have a good time there - kill two birds with one stone. That could make some happy family memories.
|
SB
enthusiast
Posts: 1134
Reg: 09-07-03
|
04-26-12 09:10 PM - Post#148506
In response to RRRquilter
Frisco was one of the communities that didn't meet stage 3 water conservation targets. They probably are not the best city to use as a comparison.
|
mgrayar
enthusiast
Posts: 3156
Reg: 09-25-09
|
04-26-12 10:27 PM - Post#148509
In response to SB
To OP: I don't get the argument about parents that work. The parks are open early and late. The Village is open late as well. If it's a priority, then there is no reason you cannot utilize these locations once a week.
You also need to do a little research on our water supply. Just because our lakes are full does not mean we have enough water. Our capacity is less due to the loss incurred by the Zebra Muscle infestation. However our demand is greater than ever with the fast development Allen has seen.
You may not see it in your daily life, but our water situation is a real issue.
Learn more about Cystic Fibrosis and how you can help at:
http://www.cff.org
Everyone can make a difference! |
Edited by mgrayar on 04-26-12 10:27 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
|
Jeremy
member
Posts: 82
Loc: Allen, Tx
Reg: 06-20-11
|
04-27-12 09:06 AM - Post#148513
In response to mgrayar
According to the Villages website the fountain in front of Purple Cow and Gloria's is open until 9pm nightly. There is a fountain show at 7pm,8pm, and 9pm and a security guard makes sure that kids are not in it during the show. If you watch the show and see the pressure behind the water you will understand why.
I'm not sure if the spraypark at Celebration is open yet but the hours will be daily except Wednesdays until 9pm when it opens.
These may not replace the daycare fountain for your kids but at least it will give them something to look forward to if you make it a regular event on Saturdays or one evening after work. In my opinion... you can't beat Gloria's for a great family dinner.
|
StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 840
Loc: East Side
Reg: 09-24-04
|
04-27-12 09:29 AM - Post#148515
In response to Jeremy
How about this research:
There are 13 member cities in the North Texas Municipal Water District:
Allen, Farmersville, Forney, Frisco, Garland, McKinney, Mesquite, Plano, Princeton, Richardson, Rockwall, Royse City, and Wylie.
Out of those 13, there is only ONE city that has this line item restriction: Allen.
Out of those 13, there are 5 cities that ALLOW for the draining and refilling of swimming pools (McKinney, Richardson, Rockwall, Royse City, & Wylie).
Out of those 13, there are 3 that allow for watering of teeboxes and greens at golf courses (Rockwall, Royse City & Wylie).
Why is Allen the only one that won't allow the preschoolers to have 15 minutes a week to cool off?
This screams to me of someone who didn't do their research. Did anyone canvas the city to figure out which businesses this would affect? Did anyone call those businesses and ask about their spray park programs to get further details about just how much water we're talking about? Did anyone compare water bills for those facilities to see just how much extra water was used during the time that the facility was run?
I highly doubt it.
There are aisles and aisles of toys at Allen Target stores, Walmart and Toys R Us that are specifically hooked up to hoses for summer fun. Those items are specifically named in the City of Allen Water Restrictions. Are you telling me that those items are really only used after 6pm and before 10am? Really? We they used then when you were a kid? Why are those continued to be sold in our City Stores, if the use of them is against the Ordinance?
I appreciate you looking up times for us, but as a busy family with two working parents who have long hours and long commutes, the last thing we want to do after work is leave the house.
It seems like some of you don't understand just how happy splashing around in water for 10-15 minutes a week makes these kids. The teachers love it and take tons of pictures of the happy children squealing with delight, playing with sponges and other water collection toys. It truly is my son's favorite day of school all week. It's 15 minutes.
This line item doesn't affect you. It only affects pre-schoolers who's parents both work. It's not meant to limit the fun of the adults. It only diminishes the quality of life for little kids who's parents both work.
Why don't you come tell them that we can't have Santa because of a shortage of red velvet?
|
StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 840
Loc: East Side
Reg: 09-24-04
|
04-27-12 09:32 AM - Post#148516
In response to StacyLynn624
The zebra mussels affect 28% of the total water supply for the NTMWD. 28%.
Are you meaning to tell me that last summer wasn't an fluke? That that is going to happen every year? I deal in statistics, and I hate to tell you this, but it was an anomaly. Remember that summer 5 years or so ago when it rained almost every day in June and half of July? The whole summer was a wash out. People weren't saying then that that would happen every summer. So why say that we're going to be in a huge drought every summer?
The fact is, we're not in a drought anymore, and this tiny line item is not the source of the problem. In fact, it wouldn't make a dent in the problem, so why hurt the kids?
|
RRRquilter
enthusiast
Posts: 1243
Loc: Allen
Reg: 05-02-05
|
04-27-12 10:26 AM - Post#148519
In response to StacyLynn624
I am sure that the people that run your daycare can come up with another 15 minute activity that will replace the joy your little boy receives once a week.
Have you called the city to talk with them and let them know how this line item in the ordinance is affecting the happiness of your family? I would think that this would be a good place to start. Hopefully you and your family can find a remedy, since you cannot find 15 minutes of your busy life to take your little boy to an approved splash park.
|
StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 840
Loc: East Side
Reg: 09-24-04
|
04-27-12 10:34 AM - Post#148523
In response to RRRquilter
"since you cannot find 15 minutes of your busy life to take your little boy to an approved splash park." Gee thanks. Why don't you come live in my shoes for a week. Or, come do my laundry and take care of our yard and go grocery shopping for us so that we can free up some time to take our son to the big spray park when we don't have to work. Very nice. You have no idea what our lives are like.
It just seems that this line item is harsh and was not thought through. And yes, I sent an email to the water conservation lead and copied all of the city counsilmembers, the city manager, and the mayor.
If all of the other cities can do it, why can't Allen? It's 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week. That's it. The one at my son's school drains into a city pond...that has a fountain.
|
shiraz
enthusiast
Posts: 522
Loc: allen, tx, usa
Reg: 05-23-02
|
04-27-12 10:36 AM - Post#148525
In response to StacyLynn624
StacyLynn, I'm sure you've already contacted the city about providing them with the information and statistics you've researched and a cogent, thoughtfully-crafted explanation of why you feel the splash park restrictions can and should be loosened. Perhaps you have also rallied your friends and neighbors to lend their voices, as well.
In the meantime, however, your loud and repeated claims of targeted discrimination against working parents and their children are, frankly, offensive. You are not being discriminated against. You are feeling an unpleasant and undesired effect of the water restrictions that may or may not have even been fully thought out when the restrictions were written. Contact the city and present your case. If you change things, you'll be a hero.
|
StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 840
Loc: East Side
Reg: 09-24-04
|
04-27-12 10:55 AM - Post#148531
In response to shiraz
Please tell me exactly how this line item affects citizens of Allen other than those who attend day care because their parents work. Please. I'd like to hear exactly why this line item is so important to you to keep in there. Because to me, its one person taking a shower once a day. 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week. That's it.
Here's the current drought map for the South:
http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DM_south.htm
The Citis of San Antonio, Austin, and Lubbock (all harder hit by the drought than Allen) are on Stage 2 restrictions with no restriction on spray parks, recirculated or not.
Why is it that the City of Allen has to take such a hard stance on this? Why? No one else seems to. I would think that draining a pool and refilling it in McKinney wastes more water than my son's school does in two weeks with the spray park, yet those homeowners can do it.
Even the NTMWD doesn't have this as a Stage 3 suggestion, so why is the City doing this?
Do they have a spray park at the Senior's Center? No. The only non-recirculated water spray fountains that I know of are at daycares in Allen. So, it only affects those children. Please tell me how this affects other citizens. How can our city's 2-5 year olds be wasting so much water, that their summer fun has to be eliminated?
|
RRRquilter
enthusiast
Posts: 1243
Loc: Allen
Reg: 05-02-05
|
04-27-12 10:57 AM - Post#148532
In response to StacyLynn624
"since you cannot find 15 minutes of your busy life to take your little boy to an approved splash park." Gee thanks. Why don't you come live in my shoes for a week. Or, come do my laundry and take care of our yard and go grocery shopping for us so that we can free up some time to take our son to the big spray park when we don't have to work. Very nice. You have no idea what our lives are like.
It just seems that this line item is harsh and was not thought through. And yes, I sent an email to the water conservation lead and copied all of the city counsilmembers, the city manager, and the mayor.
If all of the other cities can do it, why can't Allen? It's 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week. That's it. The one at my son's school drains into a city pond...that has a fountain.
Most of us think that our lives a busy. As a mom who has gone back to school, has three children and a husband to take care of with all the normal household chores, more then our fair share of outside activities - I get it, I really do. But your rant seems to be on the selfish side, and not thinking of the community on a whole. Sometimes, we have to make sacrifices for the betterment of the world we live.
|
Jeremy
member
Posts: 82
Loc: Allen, Tx
Reg: 06-20-11
|
04-27-12 11:21 AM - Post#148535
In response to StacyLynn624
It seems like some of you don't understand just how happy splashing around in water for 10-15 minutes a week makes these kids. The teachers love it and take tons of pictures of the happy children squealing with delight, playing with sponges and other water collection toys. It truly is my son's favorite day of school all week. It's 15 minutes.
This line item doesn't affect you. It only affects pre-schoolers who's parents both work. It's not meant to limit the fun of the adults. It only diminishes the quality of life for little kids who's parents both work.
None of us know what hours you and your husband work and if you even have weekends off. However, if you do I would think that if you are off on weekends you enjoy spending some time with your family. Laundry and other chores can be finished after the little ones are asleep. Taking an hour or so to drive to a splash park to enjoy it with your kids and personally hear them "squealing with delight" instead of the teacher telling you they did should be easy to justify.
As for the second part of your statement, are you saying that if a parent that does not work and chooses to put their child in daycare to help with social skills is less affected?
|
shiraz
enthusiast
Posts: 522
Loc: allen, tx, usa
Reg: 05-23-02
|
04-27-12 11:50 AM - Post#148538
In response to StacyLynn624
I'd like to hear exactly why this line item is so important to you to keep in there.
Did I say the line item was important to me? No. I did not. Read my post.
Inconvenience does not equal discrimination. Disappointment does not equal discrimination.
Call the city. Make things happen. I wish you luck. But don't tell me you're being discriminated against.
|
Barry_Hubris
enthusiast
Posts: 170
Loc: Allen, TX, US
Reg: 09-30-00
|
04-27-12 11:51 AM - Post#148539
In response to StacyLynn624
There is a public forum at the twice held monthly City Council meetings where you can voice your opinions - maybe they will listen and lighten the restrictions.
|
StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 840
Loc: East Side
Reg: 09-24-04
|
04-27-12 11:57 AM - Post#148541
In response to shiraz
Please tell me what classes of citizens that this line item affects.
|
StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 840
Loc: East Side
Reg: 09-24-04
|
04-27-12 12:00 PM - Post#148542
In response to StacyLynn624
I'm glad to see that the happiness of children is wasted on the citizens of the city of Allen.
If there are parents who stay at home and get to send their kids to school to work on social skills, they should be upset too, as I imagine those kids love splash day too. Most people send their kids to day care because of work obligations.
Seriously people. It's 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week to make some kids happy. Allen is the only city that I have found so far IN TEXAS that has this line item. It's ridiculous. But if you people think that 15 minutes a day is going to drain the lake and cause 100 years worth of suffering. Fine.
I think you are being ridiculous, and I think the people who put this line item in the restrictions didn't think it through. I have yet to get a response from city leaders.
|
janes
enthusiast
Posts: 347
Loc: Allen, TX USA
Reg: 07-07-02
|
04-27-12 12:11 PM - Post#148544
In response to StacyLynn624
Wow...
It's amazing how much one can be attacked for stating her opinion. I concur with StacyLynn for being quite upset at what appears to be a very punitive restriction for the day care kiddos. While my kids are much older, I distinctly remember the joy of splashing around with their friends for "splash day". This seems to be something that the day care centers should address as a business community since it impacts the way they do business. Kids need to go outside and play.. period. When it's in the summer, they need to be cool and thus the water games. I totally support any effort to revise this rule because it seems absurd that the daycare business should suffer while the car wash businesses are "business as usual".
As far as StacyLynn's passion is concerned.. she's just a mom who wants the best for her child. I applaud her efforts to make daycare a positive experience. The indoor activities are fine but going outside is what kids really enjoy.
My 2 cents..
|
cp
enthusiast
Posts: 195
Reg: 12-14-11
|
04-27-12 12:23 PM - Post#148545
In response to janes
Wow...
It's amazing how much one can be attacked for stating her opinion. I concur with StacyLynn for being quite upset at what appears to be a very punitive restriction for the day care kiddos. While my kids are much older, I distinctly remember the joy of splashing around with their friends for "splash day". This seems to be something that the day care centers should address as a business community since it impacts the way they do business. Kids need to go outside and play.. period. When it's in the summer, they need to be cool and thus the water games. I totally support any effort to revise this rule because it seems absurd that the daycare business should suffer while the car wash businesses are "business as usual".
As far as StacyLynn's passion is concerned.. she's just a mom who wants the best for her child. I applaud her efforts to make daycare a positive experience. The indoor activities are fine but going outside is what kids really enjoy.
My 2 cents..
Define "attacked," please...
I don't see where anyone has attacked StacyLynn for voicing her opinions.
I'm sure I'd be frustrated if something I expected everyday to happen didn't. However, I also know I'd be thinking of alternatives in the meantime.
If working so many hours requires that much time away from kids, to the point that a day care is held to a higher responsibility to provide the fun for its children, perhaps the parents ought to reconsider their priorities and figure out what (or who) is more important...
My 2 cents...
| "In religion and politics people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination..." -Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain |
|
StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 840
Loc: East Side
Reg: 09-24-04
|
04-27-12 12:57 PM - Post#148550
In response to cp
I moderate a birth board on one of the largest parenting forums on the internet. Birth boards are hard because everyone has high hormones. One of the community rules is no personal attacks. There have been several on this post, and some on this forum directly from cp. I have tried not to attack anyone personally.
Thank you Janes for understanding my perspective. I was starting to think that the citizens of Allen were a bunch of children-hating people who never had summer fun growing up. My husband and I would go to work late on Fridays just to watch our son at splash day. It was so much fun. I'd hate to see that taken away from them.
It boggles my mind that Allen is the only town in the NTMWD and beyond that has this line item restriction. That's the issue. The issue is not with Stage 3 water conservation itself, just this line item. I think that's what people are looking past.
It's just that line item.
I'm going to discuss it with the Director at my son's school. It just seems to me that someone at City Hall didn't have all of the information and made a poor decision.
Edited by StacyLynn624 on 04-27-12 12:58 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
|
cp
enthusiast
Posts: 195
Reg: 12-14-11
|
04-27-12 01:05 PM - Post#148555
In response to StacyLynn624
I moderate a birth board on one of the largest parenting forums on the internet. Birth boards are hard because everyone has high hormones. One of the community rules is no personal attacks. There have been several on this post, and some on this forum directly from cp. I have tried not to attack anyone personally.
Thank you Janes for understanding my perspective. I was starting to think that the citizens of Allen were a bunch of children-hating people who never had summer fun growing up. My husband and I would go to work late on Fridays just to watch our son at splash day. It was so much fun. I'd hate to see that taken away from them.
It boggles my mind that Allen is the only town in the NTMWD and beyond that has this line item restriction. That's the issue. The issue is not with Stage 3 water conservation itself, just this line item. I think that's what people are looking past.
It's just that line item.
I'm going to discuss it with the Director at my son's school. It just seems to me that someone at City Hall didn't have all of the information and made a poor decision.
When you can provide the "attacks" from me, I'll apologize. Until then, you are simply caught up in an extended moment of frustration with the City of Allen, expecting sympathy from everyone in town.
I'm not here to ruffle anyone's feathers as janes incorrectly stated on the other thread. I also don't know anything about your life. However, you've clearly spelled out one aspect of it here on this forum. And I will respond accordingly. If you don't want input, don't post here.
| "In religion and politics people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination..." -Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain |
|
StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 840
Loc: East Side
Reg: 09-24-04
|
04-27-12 01:56 PM - Post#148561
In response to cp
I'm sorry that I have to work in order for our family to provide for our needs and wants. If you will send your laundry/lawn care/house care/personal errand-running fairy to my house, I could take my child to the spray park when I am home from my job and commute.
The attacks come from when people say I need to rearrange my priorities, or are arguing why 15 minutes a day for 5 days of water is THE BIGGEST PROBLEM with not conserving water. I only have so many hours in the day, and I can't do everything that needs to be done in the very few hours that I'm not at work or trying to get to and from work.
Here's one from you:
"If so, I'd highly recommend switching some priorities around."
Or what about this one:
"I feel sorry for your kids. Period. "
|
cp
enthusiast
Posts: 195
Reg: 12-14-11
|
04-27-12 02:18 PM - Post#148563
In response to StacyLynn624
I'm sorry that I have to work in order for our family to provide for our needs and wants. If you will send your laundry/lawn care/house care/personal errand-running fairy to my house, I could take my child to the spray park when I am home from my job and commute.
The attacks come from when people say I need to rearrange my priorities, or are arguing why 15 minutes a day for 5 days of water is THE BIGGEST PROBLEM with not conserving water. I only have so many hours in the day, and I can't do everything that needs to be done in the very few hours that I'm not at work or trying to get to and from work.
Here's one from you:
"If so, I'd highly recommend switching some priorities around."
Or what about this one:
"I feel sorry for your kids. Period. "
I'll withhold my apology and continue participating in other threads here on the forum, those with much less emotion behind the posts.
I'm sure most of Allen's fine citizens are child-friendly. I'm sure most of Allen's fine citizens aren't disputing the restrictions, at least yet. Maybe you're getting a jump on the game. But, for now, take whatever advice or suggestions you can get from those who are willing to sympathize with you, call the City offices repeatedly until you get your way.
If/when our water rates go up because of one or two demanding citizens who are sorely and miserably displeased with the City's decision, I'll be sure to send my water bills to you and expect them to be paid. After all, you work so many hours. You should have no trouble doing so...
| "In religion and politics people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination..." -Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain |
|
SB
enthusiast
Posts: 1134
Reg: 09-07-03
|
04-27-12 04:48 PM - Post#148572
In response to StacyLynn624
If all of the other cities can do it, why can't Allen? It's 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week. That's it. The one at my son's school drains into a city pond...that has a fountain.
It's not an ornamental fountain. It is most like a feature with the function of recirculating and oxygenating the water so it doesn't become a stagnant, smelly soup that only serves to help breed Mosquitos that would prey on your child whenever he is outdoors.
|
RRRquilter
enthusiast
Posts: 1243
Loc: Allen
Reg: 05-02-05
|
04-27-12 05:23 PM - Post#148573
In response to SB
Also, one can say that it is only 15 minutes per day. But how many daycare places in Allen alone could possibly be doing this? I highly doubt only one. Just on the way to take my kiddos to school I pass no less then four of them, and that is only going to our elementary school.
|
StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 840
Loc: East Side
Reg: 09-24-04
|
04-27-12 09:46 PM - Post#148584
In response to RRRquilter
What I'm saying is, did anyone at the city call the places that this line item affects to find out how they run their splash days? I know how mine is run. I've sat there and watched it. Not all of the daycare centers have them. In fact, I only know of 3 in the city that have these. The spray park at celebration park is exempt because it's recirculated. As is the one at star creek or whatever. I would assume that that one is recirculated.
Just to be clear, this isnt an elaboate spray park. It's literally one 8 foot tall tube that spits out water. Kids r kids on Bethany has one that is visible from the road. It's one faucet.
|
StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 840
Loc: East Side
Reg: 09-24-04
|
04-27-12 09:47 PM - Post#148585
In response to StacyLynn624
Why is Allen the only city on the member list for the water district that has this line item? Even the water district doesn't have it on their suggested restrictions for stage 3.
|
mgrayar
enthusiast
Posts: 3156
Reg: 09-25-09
|
04-27-12 10:23 PM - Post#148587
In response to StacyLynn624
Stacy, call the city. They will answer these questions.
Learn more about Cystic Fibrosis and how you can help at:
http://www.cff.org
Everyone can make a difference! |
|
MarkH
enthusiast
Posts: 271
Loc: Allen
Reg: 04-18-00
|
04-28-12 01:37 AM - Post#148591
In response to StacyLynn624
Stacy,
To the best of your knowledge have the daycare center(s) approached city hall about this situation? Also, are any other parents joining you in your quest for answers?
|
ccw
newbie
Posts: 2
Reg: 04-29-12
|
04-29-12 09:37 PM - Post#148619
In response to MarkH
stacy, with all due respect your situation is not unique....we all have jobs, yards to mow, laundry to do, dinner to cook, errands to run, ect. Of course it's tough, but it's also absurd to suggest you have 0 time in your week to take your kids out to one of the local splash parks for a little fun. Case in point, you've managed to find enough time to vent on this forum about this very topic, yet you find it appualing for anyone to suggest that you might not have your priorities straight.
The bottom line is we suffered a severe drought and it's iditiotc to ignore any lesson that might have been learned from what that can do to our community if those same conditions return, or increase, in the coming years. I applaud the city of allen for taking a proactive approach to this issue as oppossed to our neighbors who you've pointed out are not doing their part in our regions water conservation efforts. Could this issue be a bit of an over reaction by denying children 15 minutes of fun? sure....but everyone is being effected by the stage 3 restrictions and every drop of water wasted during this time effects the entire community, not just your children. Your real issue should be with out neighboring communities not taking further steps to improve their water conservation goals so that these over reactions don't need to occur by other forward thinking communities
|
denisew
Community Expert
Posts: 8753
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
|
05-07-12 04:25 PM - Post#149100
In response to ccw
I just saw a notification that the spray grounds at Celebration Park are now open. Here is a link with more information:
http://www.cityofallen.org/index.aspx?NID=1213
The city retro-fitted the area with a recirculating pumping system to help conserve water.
|
Arcturus
enthusiast
Posts: 226
Reg: 05-11-10
|
05-07-12 11:15 PM - Post#149117
In response to denisew
While I can sympathize with Stacy being upset, I feel that the rational is quite messed up. This isn't discrimination against working parents, it is a regulation against the way water is used. It is the same reason car washes can continue to operate...they recycle the water. The same reason the city doesn't care about people taking showers...they can recover the water, but do no want people watering their lawn excessively...they cannot recover the water.
If anything, Stacy's complaint should be with her daycare. If they really care so much about splash days for their kids, then they should invest in a splash system that recycles the water like the one at celebration does.
And sorry, but your situation is not unique, I have a child in daycare. I know they have splash days, but it sounds like maybe they won't this year, as I am pretty sure it just sprays into the grass. Oh well, the kid will live. And if a childs only source of happiness in life is at their day care during splash day, that is pretty sad.
Obviously you have been able to spend hours of your time researching this topic, posting in this thread, etc. Couldn't that time instead be spent with your child...maybe taking them to celebration...just sayin' :)
|
vm7mm
enthusiast
Posts: 1381
Loc: Allen Tx usa
Reg: 08-12-04
|
05-08-12 06:49 AM - Post#149121
In response to StacyLynn624
Maybe they could have super soaker day or something similar?
|
denisew
Community Expert
Posts: 8753
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
|
05-08-12 08:44 AM - Post#149123
In response to Arcturus
as I am pretty sure it just sprays into the grass
The spray grounds is all a padded area where there is very little water that goes into the grass. What goes into the grass is what is tracked out by the kids or if the wind is blowing hard enough. It is recovered through the drains in the spray grounds and now recirculated so it saves water.
|
Arcturus
enthusiast
Posts: 226
Reg: 05-11-10
|
05-08-12 08:48 AM - Post#149124
In response to denisew
I was referring to the spray stuff at my childs daycare, can't speak for any of the others. My memory may be off on my childs daycare as well, but I think I recall seeing it, and it was in a grassy area.
|
DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1347
Reg: 02-20-08
|
05-22-12 04:31 PM - Post#149663
In response to Arcturus
You can hand water your kids anytime you want. I like chasing the kids around with a high pressure washer. Nothing says summer like 2500 psi! The bruises and rashes are only temporary.
Seriously, if the daycare wanted, they can run a good ol' fashioned water hose.
Edited by DrivinTooFast on 05-22-12 04:31 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
|
