Despite being forewarned in Tuesday’s Standard Journal about the hidden dangers associated with frolicking at the splash pad, I took my kids to Porter Park today anyway. I scoffed at the danger. I got there to see lots of other scoffers of danger. The water park was packed! I counted at least 100 people in the immediate vicinity cheating death by bacteria. Turns out there were more serious dangers at the park today.

Right before I drove up around 2 p.m. a giant limb from one of the park’s oldest trees in the southwest corner of the park broke and fell at least 40 feet. The Standard Journal reports that a small family sitting on a blanket underneath the tree had two children that were hurt and taken to the hospital with minor injuries. See the story here:

http://www.rexburgstandardjournal.com/articles/2009/07/01/news/31.txt.

Last night I attended an event hosted by the Edward Jones Investment Firm, a party for families of investors like my Grandpa, which entitled my kids and me to free ice cream and carousel rides. During the event my 5-year-old began scaling the same tree that amputated a limb today. As he tried to work his little size-9 Crocs into the bark I looked straight up at the tree and was struck by the enormity of it.

Ironically, also during the Edward Jones event, my mom witnessed a little boy darting through traffic bounce off a car driving past the park. He was thrown down, but jumped up without injury. Cops were called to make sure everyone was ok.

I can’t believe how much action the southwest corner of Porter Park has gotten during the last 24 hours! It’s been a pretty perilous place. But I’m definitely glad no one was seriously hurt. I took a few pictures of the clean up of the tree carnage while my children ran through the Spray Park, which it turns out, seems to be the safest place for them today!