City recommends partial fence near Dundonald pond after kindergarten student death

The City of Saskatoon is suggesting a partial fence be built to separate the school yard at École Dundonald School from a nearby pond where a kindergarten student who died last fall was found.

The idea is one of several meant to improve safety near the city's stormwater ponds in the wake of the five-year-old's death six months ago. The ideas were drafted by a committee made up of city staff and representatives of local school boards.

"For Dundonald Park, a partial 1.2-metre-high wrought-iron fence on the school side of the park pathway is recommended," reads a summary of ideas shared Tuesday night with parents of children attending both Dundonald School and nearby St. Peter Elementary School.

Ahmedsadiq Elmmi, a kindergarten student at École Dundonald School, died after being found at the pond on Sept. 11.

• 'There isn't anything worse': 5-year-old boy dies after being found in pond near his Saskatoon school

Some residents of the Dundonald area had called for a fence ahead of Tuesday's meeting. More than 800 people had also signed an online petition.

• Some Dundonald residents call for fence ahead of public meetings on pond safety

Some of the other ideas for improving safety include:

• Revising existing signage by "using larger images to communicate dangers."
• Requiring gentle slopes at future ponds.
• Locating new ponds "a safe distance from school."
• Using roads or buildings as barriers between storm ponds and schools and playgrounds in new neighbourhoods.
• Considering fencing on a case-by-case basis.

'Children do not really read signs'

Cary Tarasoff, a resident of the Dundonald area whose children attended École Dundonald School, said he could see some benefit from a fence.

But some of the city's other suggestions left him with questions and doubts.

"What is this safe distance exactly and who is determining this?" he said. 

Of improved signage, he said, "Little children do not really read signs. What if the city put forward a better solution or design where extra signage would not matter, even?  If the issue is fully mitigated [the pond is buried], then signage is not really required."

City council needs to approve the ideas before they can be implemented.

The city is hosting a public meeting Wednesday night to discuss the options with the wider Dundonald area. It begins at 6:30 p.m. CST at St. Peter Elementary School.