We were in Durango for a wedding and took our grandchildren to Santa Rita Park. It is absolutely beautiful.
We were having such a good time when our hearts stopped as we watched a toddler almost run into the 60 mph traffic running adjacent to the park. There is no barrier of any kind protecting the park. Her mother was running frantically trying to catch her daughter, and the small child thought her mother was chasing her. We all watched in horror as the mother caught her child within moments of the child being killed.
I called Durango Parks to voice my opinion that a fence of some kind needs to be erected to protect children as they play.
I spoke with a woman who was quite indignant, and all but hung up on me when she learned I didn’t live in Durango.
Tourism is important to your lovely city, but I will never again allow my grandchildren in this park until it is safe. From the comments I heard as we quickly gathered our kids and left, I do not think those who witnessed this incident will, either.
The city has obviously spent a lot of money on this facility, but I think the best dollars you will spend all year will be to protect innocent children from running into high-speed traffic by placing a barrier fence to stop them at the border.
Please consider doing soon, before a tragedy occurs.
Sally Smith
Denver
