A Fishing Pier for Children and Children with Disabilities that does not contain a railing...

Contributed by: shors
The DNR has approved the application for the newly proposed fishing pier that was communicated as a pier for children and children with disabilities. The DNR considers two points in their consideration of this application:
A. Does the pier interfere with the scenic beauty of the vista?
B. Will the pier harm the surrounding environment?

All other issues like safety etc. are not considered in this decision. To get around the scenic beauty issue, the pier construction plan was changed per the DNR's accepted specifications. The railings were omitted and a 4 inch bumper (edging) was added to a flat pier that would be lowered closer to the water. This flat pier does not obstruct the scenic beauty according to the DNR.

I am curious if the residents of Oshkosh are comfortable with this. Is this a safe pier for children and individual's with disabilities? Should railings be added?

If a child dies or is injured, the City, the Otter Street Fishing Club and C. R. Meyer (designer of the pier) could potentially be liable for this. Today, litigation is commonplace.

Originally the City Council approved a pier with railings. The railings have been omitted.

It seems to me that one life injured or lost is one too many. Menominee Park is the largest park in the city and should maintain the highest standards as it is likely the most utilized park. I think it is unconscionable to omit railings, but this is my opinion.

Shouldn't the City Manager, City Attorny and City Council be concerned about this?

Teri