Don’t Ice Skate on Richmond Lakes
I would think it was obvious but received a press release from the Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities warning folks to stay of the local lakes including Forest Hill Park Lake. Signs are going up around the three lakes at Byrd Park, the Azalea Garden Pond and Young’s Pond at Bryan Park, and the lake at Forest Hill Park. My faith in people’s stupidity leads me to believe that we will read or see on the news someone falling in shortly. Hopefully it won’t be a tragic mistake the victim makes, only a wet one.
Read the press release.
Stay off of Richmond lakes
The Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities is asking the public to stay off its frozen lakes.
The department has lakes at Byrd Park , Bryan Park and Forest Hill Park . “Although they may appear to be frozen, they are not safe,” said Department Director J. R. Pope.
“When the temperatures fluctuate above and below freezing as they have recently in Richmond , it causes a ‘honeycomb’ effect within the ice, which weakens it,” Pope explained. “While they may look inviting, they are dangerous.”
The department has posted “No Skating” signs around all park lakes. This includes the three lakes at Byrd Park , the Azalea Garden Pond and Young’s Pond at Bryan Park, and the lake at Forest Hill Park . The signs use a symbol of a man ice skating with the familiar circle and bar stamped across it.
I remember several years ago testing the ice at Byrd park. After hitting it a couple times with a baseball bat is seemed pretty safe. My friend walked about 15 feet out when a giant snapping noise echoed across the whole lake. He ran back real quick and we never set foot on the lake again.
It’ll be interesting to see how they keep people off the Forest Hill Park lake, hidden away as it is.
By the way, checking out the ice on Byrd Park Fountain lake today, I found out the city has established free wifi there. Great place to try out that new Christmas Netbook.
I cant wait to ice skate with my macBook! What fun is life if you dont risk it?
Love that one piece aluminum body.
As a resident of someone who lives under the lake, I wholeheartedly agree. I don’t want people ice skating or playing hockey on my residence. Its just another example of us underwater folk being completely ignored in the community.