Bench Safety Must Be Addressed

While one might conclude that the tragic death of an 8-year-old in Laguna Niguel was the result of a freak accident, the tipping over of an 800-pound concrete bench cannot be dismissed that easily. Anthony Ferris, known as Tony to his classmates, teachers and fellow soccer players, died Monday after a park bench on which he and several other children were sitting or playing flipped backward and rolled down an embankment, crushing the boy. Authorities said the other children on the bench managed to jump off in time.

An investigation showed that the bench and a similar one elsewhere in the park had not been bolted to the ground. City officials said the park’s plans did not require that the benches be secured in that way. But the company that manufactured the benches said its drawings and its catalogs specify that the bench should be anchored. Common sense suggests that anything that heavy be anchored, especially if kids might play on it.

In fact, officials in some cities said they determined some time ago that concrete benches posed a danger and were not stable. Lighter aluminum and plastic seats replaced concrete. That’s something that deserves consideration in all municipalities. The accident also properly prompted cities across Orange County to begin inspecting their park benches to ensure that they were installed correctly. Officials reported no problems.

Tony, a third-grade student at Hidden Hills Elementary School, was on an outing to Chapparosa Park as part of a program operated at the school by the YMCA. Although the YMCA program was about to end a two-year probationary period imposed by the state, there were no indications the organization was at fault. The state Department of Social Services had imposed the two-year probation on the Hidden Hills program because of what a state official said were “serious complaints” about providing a safe environment for children.

Chapparosa Park was developed a decade ago by Shea Homes Southern California, which built the houses near the park. Laguna Niguel took over the park after the city’s incorporation. Shea said it was investigating the incident but declined to answer other questions.

Determining responsibility will answer some questions about the accident. Did no one ever inspect the bench and see it was not secured? Were inspection reports ignored? From automobile seat belts to bicyclists’ helmets, technology has made life safer in many aspects. The threat of litigation also has prompted widespread measures to prevent accidents or injuries.

Yes, accidents happen. But children especially need all possible protection. Adults have to remember that, and cities need to anticipate where safety might be jeopardized in our public spaces.