San Antonio’s Kiddie Park had safety problems
When Tammy Haby and her family threw a birthday party for her 6-year-old son, she took him to Kiddie Park, a magical world of calliope music, popcorn and amusement rides that she had loved as a little girl.
A roller coaster accident erased her fond memories.
“My son was screaming like I’ve never heard anybody scream,” Haby said. “His mouth was just full of blood.”
Haby’s son, Holden, was riding the “Little Dipper” roller coaster with other children when a wheel locked up, records show. The ride jerked to a stop and Holden’s mouth slammed into the coaster car. The blow knocked out two baby teeth, chipped three, and jammed three others into his gums.
The Dec. 4, 2004, incident was the first of multiple ride malfunctions at Kiddie Park, a San Antonio landmark on Broadway at Mulberry Avenue that opened in 1925 but has fallen on tough times.
Generations of San Antonians have enjoyed the spinning carousel, cars and planes at Kiddie Park. Owner Bob Aston said he loved the rides so much as a child, he ended up buying them when he grew up.
“It’s a grand park,” Aston said. “It’s the oldest of its kind in the whole country.”
Aston said it hasn’t been easy keeping the park open in a sour economy. The park is closed and its insurance policy has expired. In a recent interview, Aston said he’s in talks with someone who wants to buy the park and remodel it.
Other incidents
But records show the roller coaster accident was one of several mishaps at Kiddie Park involving structural failures on the rides, all of which are decades old.
On March 13, 2008, state officials received another complaint about Kiddie Park: An arm on a small, 58-year-old Ferris wheel had snapped. A carriage filled with terrified children fell a short distance, but no one was seriously injured.
Under state law, ride owners are supposed to have their rides annually inspected by a third party hired by their insurance company. Kiddie Park had no up-to-date inspection reports on file. And Aston wasn’t returning phone calls from state officials.
Elisabeth Ret, a lawyer for the enforcement arm of the Texas Department of Insurance, sent a March 13 warning letter to Aston by certified mail. Copies were sent to Police Chief William McManus and City Manager Sheryl Sculley.
“Your amusement ride facility is not in compliance,” Ret warned Aston. “The department has attempted to contact you several times regarding the failure of your amusement rides to be in compliance with the law. The department has yet to receive any response from you.”
That same day, the state agency called and e-mailed Bruce Martin, the city’s contract manager for downtown operations, and asked for assistance.
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Debbie July 18th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
The owner also underpays his help, both adults, as well as minor children. A
He only pays adults $4.00 an hour, but then also takes out federal tax, etc. Then, owner does not send out any W-2 forms at the end of the year. Where does these tax monies go. Also, this means that the adult workers are only making about $3.50 to $3.75 an hour. Figure it out.
Minor children are only making approx. $2.85 an hour, and then having their taxes withheld, and no W-2’s are sent to them either. Therefore, they are being paid a net pay of less than $2.50 an hour. Are the tax monies that are being collected really going to the government? If they are, why isn’t anyone receiving W-2 forms at the end of the year.
Also, wouldn’t the Kiddie Park be safer if the rides were complete run by adults, and not by chilren? I think so.
My main concern is safety for everyone, especially children, and no abuse of children.
I say - put a lot of money into this park, and it could be safe park for the little ones, and a lot of fun, and it has been said that it has a lot of good memories for people who grew up here.
This park needs rides made safe, and regular safety inspections. Rust removed, pretty paint jobs put on the rides, etc.. Please, make the grounds better for chidren and grown ups to walk around safely, and for little ones in strollers and people in wheel chairs to be able to better get around and safely.
Perhaps buy the land next door, by Mulberry, and make the Kiddie Park bigger and better. Pretty paint jobs would be wonderful. Get rid of the rust. Fix the rides, make them safe, keep them inspected and safe, and get rid of the sharp metal. Put the horses and the carrousels back together completely on the Merry Go Round and on other rides.
Also, trim those trees regularly, so that there aren’t any tree limbs and branches falling on people. These branches have been falling this year - 2009.
Keep people - little ones and grown ups - safe and having fun.
Make the park a safe place, a fun place, and a pretty place to visit on Broadway, in San Antonio, Texas.
Also, add some sort of canvas or something overhead throughout the Kiddie Park, to provide more shade while riding, sitting, or walking throughout all of the park. Otherwise, these metal rides are too hot to the touch, can burn the children, and is way too much sun, expecially during the summer.
Fix the Kiddie Park.
Thank you.