Update: Broken booze bottle closes Hiawatha wading pool, 1 hurt

1:37 PM: The Hiawatha wading pool is opening late today because of somebody’s dangerous, inconsiderate act. Christine sent a note, saying that while it’s not big news, it is “sad for kids” that somebody got broken glass in the pool, requiring a cleanup operation before it could be filled on this sunny, warm afternoon. We checked with Seattle Parks spokesperson Dewey Potter, who confirmed, “it is closed and the staff are working on it. They discovered a vodka bottle broken in the pool when they arrived at work this morning. They hope to be finished cleaning by around 2 p.m. and then start filling.” (updated) In the meantime, Lincoln Park is open today, as is South Park (location here).

2:30 PM UPDATE: Cleanup done and the pool’s open again.

3:08 PM UPDATE: Parks’ Potter just sent another update:

There was apparently still some glass in the pool even after going over it with a shop vac, and someone cut her foot. The pool is closed again, this time for the day, and the staff will continue to go over it square inch by square inch until they have every grain picked up.

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Still causing problems – another update from Dewey Potter @ Parks this morning:

The crew has swept the pool with a sweeper and still don’t think they have all the glass. A power washer is arriving there right about now, and they will power wash the pool. It will continue to be closed for at least two more hours, and the staff will update the hotline when the work is complete and the pool is filling. The hotline number is 206-684-7796.

Lincoln, 8600 Fauntleroy Way SW, is open from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
EC Hughes, 2805 SW Holden St., is open from noon – 7 p.m.

WSratsinacage July 24, 2012 (1:47 pm)

Low!

Miss O July 24, 2012 (1:54 pm)

thanks for the head’s up…we were just getting ready to head out the door!

Jen July 24, 2012 (1:58 pm)

Lame! E.C. Hughes wading pool is only open Wed-Fri, though. We were just there.

WSB July 24, 2012 (2:08 pm)

Jen, thanks, I should have cross-checked with the schedule page. Will update. – TR
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(edit) Looks like Delridge also is not open on Tuesdays. So till Hiawatha fills up, your lone option is Lincoln Park, West Seattle’s one seven-day-a-week pool. South Park, however, is open till seven, if you’re closer to there than to Lincoln Park … http://www.seattle.gov/parks/wadingpools_detail.asp?id=467

hipster! July 24, 2012 (2:03 pm)

just terrible!

D July 24, 2012 (2:13 pm)

Dangerous, inconsiderate act? What? What would you call it if it had been one of those fancy milk bottles from Metropolitan Market rather than vodka? Or a broken ketchup bottle from someone’s picnic? Wow, a bottle broke! On concrete!! The only news here is that it takes at least two hours to clean up glass from one bottle. They found it “this morning” and they hope to be finished cleaning by around 2 p.m.? I know, vodka’s against the rules. Perhaps we should set up some security cameras to catch the criminals. Or we could search people’s bags for bottles before attending the concert this thursday. Or we could get over it.

Happy July 24, 2012 (2:24 pm)

D- I agree that the kids would still be crying over spilt milk. Regardless, it is dangerous to have broken glass in a wading pool and it is inconsiderate if left that way on purpose, wouldn’t you say? Perhaps you might feel differently if it disrupted your day too.

bsmomma July 24, 2012 (2:24 pm)

Well D…whether it be a pickle jar, milk bottle or Tequilla bottle it’s very inconsiderate and yes, dangerous. I’d imagine if you had kids and they cut there foot in the public wading pool you’d be raising a ruckus about safety. Soooooo just take a deeep breath and calm down. Sat Nam………jeesh. :)

WSB July 24, 2012 (2:28 pm)

I’m actually surprised that anyone would think it NOT a big deal that some idiot smashed a bottle in a kids’ wading pool. Here is one delineation (someone on Facebook asked “why does it matter what kind of bottle?” and I noted that I didn’t ask but the Parks Dept. volunteered the info, which also leads me to note this): Alcohol is not allowed in city parks.
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http://www.seattle.gov/parks/faq.htm#Q9
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Other types of beverages you might find in a glass bottle are. So we have a potential legal violation as well as an act that shut down a pool for a few hours. Sure, there are worse things in the world. Doesn’t mean we should stop paying attention to the little things too. – TR

datamuse July 24, 2012 (2:30 pm)

I dunno, D, I think the same thing when I (frequently) find broken glass on the sidewalk, regardless of what kind of bottle it came from. And at least most people don’t walk barefoot on a sidewalk.

Diane July 24, 2012 (2:40 pm)

Alcoholism is a disease; it’s completely possible the offender is not even aware that the bottle was left there or broken; I’m grateful that parks folks were alert and cleaned up the glass prior to any children being hurt, but without the facts, calling them names is offensive to me; did anyone actually witness “some idiot smashed a bottle”

D July 24, 2012 (2:43 pm)

bsmomma, I am a mom, and (GASP) I have even encountered broken glass before. In a park!! WITH my kid! But see, I kept my kid away from it. And we all lived to talk about. I certainly never thought to contact the blog about it, though.

Unfortunate, yes, but I choose not to overreact and start calling people idiots. Maybe, just maybe, someone accidentally dropped a bottle and it broke. Looks like I’m not the one that needs to take a deep breath. And yes, I’m aware of the rule, hence my pointing it out in my initial post.

WSB July 24, 2012 (3:08 pm)

Update: More glass found, Parks is now closing the pool for the day. Adding to the story – TR

Happy July 24, 2012 (3:07 pm)

D- I think you’ve missed the point to the story in that it is informing people of a delay in the opening of the wading pool, regardless of the reason. It would have been more exciting had it been due to an alligator, but alas, just broken glass.

sam-c July 24, 2012 (3:25 pm)

sorry to hear someone cut their foot. hopefully it wasn’t too bad.
sometimes we wade with our flip flops/ crocs on. I can imagine it can be really hard to find every tiny shard. I have a hard time on our own kitchen floor sometimes.

D July 24, 2012 (3:30 pm)

Thanks, Happy, you pointed out my problem with the story. Had it been merely informational, I would not have blinked. I rely on the blog every day for information just like this. My problem is the accusatory and judgmental tone of the story, which is simply inappropriate. And WSB’s judgmental and accusatory comment that “some idiot smashed a bottle in a kids’ wading pool” proves my point perfectly.

MAS July 24, 2012 (4:36 pm)

D – you should get your money back. With the subscription fees they are charging, I expect this to be EXACTLY like a daily newspaper. I for one am going to ask for my money back, just to teach these folks a lesson about… Oh crud, I just realized it’s free and and incredibly useful local resource, operated as the owners see fit.

M Slye July 24, 2012 (4:40 pm)

When I think of our dear Tracy Record and her WSB team, “judgemental” and “accusatory” never comes to mind. They provide a great service to this community and I am grateful for that.
Keep up the good work WSB!

D July 24, 2012 (4:46 pm)

I stand by my opinion that the story and WSB’s comments are judgmental and accusatory. And MAS, I don’t think I should have to lower my expectations of unbiased reporting just because this is a free resource, ann I certainly don’t think WSB would expect me to.

MAS July 24, 2012 (4:51 pm)

D – No, but you should really look up the definition of “bias” the reporting here isn’t showing prejudice against any particular group, unless you want to classify folks that leave glass shards where children play as a specific group.

Bias: Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.

D July 24, 2012 (5:02 pm)

Thank you for the definition, MAS, that’s exactly what I mean. Showing prejudice against an unknown person (“idiot”) for unknown actions (“smashed a bottle”). All we know is that broken glass was found in the pool, yet WSB claimed that some idiot smashed a bottle. That’s bias.

Quesadilla July 24, 2012 (5:05 pm)

My daughter is the one who cut her foot, and we didn’t run to the blog or anyone else. I hadn’t even heard it was on the blog until my friend told me after she learned my daughter cut her foot. My husband taped her foot up, calmed her down, and she went about her day. Things happen, but it is unfortunate that someone broke a vodka bottle in the middle of the pool, where it is almost impossible to spot glass in the water. In any event, my daughter will be thrilled to hear her injury is so famous! :)

WSB July 24, 2012 (5:23 pm)

Quesa, I’m sorry to hear about your daughter; hope it heals fast. Nope, it was somebody else who sent a very short note this morning. We VERY MUCH appreciate everyone who shares information so that it can in turn get out to others, regardless the topic. We do uncover some news ourselves, whether it be breaking news from the scanner/911 log or other research we do (watching permits, real-estate listings, other public documents – even just driving around and spotting signs/changes), but SO much comes in as calls, texts, e-mails, Facebook messages, tweets, even the occasional piece of postal mail. – TR

Jim P. July 24, 2012 (5:06 pm)

“I stand by my opinion that the story and WSB’s comments are judgmental and accusatory. ”

Well of course the story is and the comments are. Do you think a liquor bottle wound up in a kiddie pool in a park due to someone walking by with a loaded shopping cart who slipped?

Late at night the parks around here abound with winos and drunken teenagers in the summer. I’m amazed this does not happen more often.

It’s not even uncommon to see a beer bottle or can flying out of someone;s car on the roadways late at night. I suspect you’ll find the majority of broken glass along the highways and sidewalks is booze related. Drunks are not always nice people.

pjmanley July 24, 2012 (5:11 pm)

Per the Golden Rule, any responsible person would clean up after themselves, for obvious reasons. If the offender lacked such basic capacities to do so, I pity them. But I pity worse the enablers and apologists making excuses for him or her. You are part of the problem.

Jo July 24, 2012 (5:25 pm)

Whoever did that was a jerk.

mike July 24, 2012 (5:35 pm)

How about negligence and act of incompetence ? You can’t argue with that can you?

timh2o July 24, 2012 (7:04 pm)

Yikes! the comments are something today.
I for one like the little story that goes along with an incident like this, better then “Pool Closed” nice to have some information to go along with it.
I have a six year old and the extra info is helpful to me when assessing if it’s safe to go in the pool. Thanks!

NativeToSeattle July 24, 2012 (8:16 pm)

Thanks for the update (s). As a parent with two young children it’s great to have an update before arriving and having to deal with disappointed kids.
That’s why it’s great to have a neighborhood blog that covers so many various things.
Yes, D, it’s just a broken bottle. But to be able to change plans is helpful. If a headline doesn’t apply to you, don’t read it. To others, the information is useful and it’s not that we can’t just get over it.
Thanks WSB for all you do and your great coverage.

miws July 24, 2012 (8:43 pm)

D, my condolences to you on the breakage of your vodka bottle….

Mike

D July 24, 2012 (11:16 pm)

I love all the inaccurate assumptions people are making. I’m the mother of a five year old who could easily have been heading to Hiawatha today. The headline did apply to me. I’m also, however, someone who likes make her own judgments rather then have them forced upon me.

Sgt. Hartman July 25, 2012 (2:33 am)

For the next “Crime Watch” story:

“Local mother of 5-year-old reports judgments being forced against her.”

datamuse July 25, 2012 (7:46 am)

Yanno, I disagree with D’s opinion of the story too, but good lord people. Chill. (Mike: I love ya and all, but really??)

sam-c July 25, 2012 (8:52 am)

ya know, maybe the ‘judgemental’ comes from the reference to ‘booze’ bottle, but isn’t it obvious that was done for the alliteration?

yes, we have a bottle of vodka at home, and 2/3 of it is used to make penne a la vodka.. but I’m not gonna be offended.

WSB provides real and serious news but that doesn’t mean it needs to be taken so seriously….

miws July 25, 2012 (10:29 am)

Sorry, datamuse.

Sometimes my Inner Snarkasaurus just comes out. ;-)

Miie

MAS July 27, 2012 (10:15 am)

D – You really need to use the _whole_ definition, not just the part you think applies. Did you see the part about “compared with another”?

If you’re going to claim bias, there has to be a comparison made or implied. I think you’re confusing “opinion” with “bias.” They certainly offered an opinion here, but I can’t see any way to define the statement as biased against any person or group.

Sorry, comment time is over.