During the opening hearing, directors on the city board expressed concern for the safety of patrons at the Siloam Springs Whitewater Recreation Park. They said that public safety at the park was high on their priority list and asked that the public help police the area and look out for one another.
On July 2, Siloam Springs public safety director Greg Neely issued a statement regarding water safety at the park.
"In the coming weeks, the city of Siloam Springs will partner with a number of organizations to ensure that precautions are being taken, including the use of personal flotation devices, adherence to park rules, utilizing the buddy system and more," he wrote.
The organizations were not defined, but Siloam Springs police officers have been on patrol at the park each day. Swimmers are not required to use flotation devices, but signs at the park encourage their use.
"These initiatives are in line with our CitySafe program that provides information and practical applications for our citizens to be well informed, more self-reliant and safe," Neely said.
General News on 07/13/2014