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

Dundonald residents will get their first look Tuesday night at the options the city is considering to improve storm water pond safety following the death of a five-year-old in the area.

Ahmedsadiq Elmmi, a kindergarten student at École Dundonald School, died after being found at the pond in nearby Dundonald Park last September.

• Concerns over Saskatoon pond where boy died date back years, residents say

• Saskatoon to review pond safety following death of 5-year-old

The city has declined to release its full recommendations ahead of the meetings.

But in a pamphlet delivered to homes last week, several options were outlined, including "barriers", signs, maintenance, education and awareness, and "future planning, design and construction."

'Keep it clean'

Matthew Doherty has lived on George Road for about 10 years. his backyard faces the park.

"If they could at least keep it clean so everything was visible so that nobody could get lost in the weeds," he said of the pond.

"A short chain-link fence around the pond would be maybe OK but it still needs to be kept clear so that nobody can disappear in the weeds," he added.

A change.org petition launched last fall asking for a fence had garnered 884 signatures as of Sunday.

'Kids are just attracted to that'

Teenage student and fellow George Road resident Michelle Baier used to go to St. Peter Elementary School which, like École Dundonald School, is hugged on both its sides by the park.

"A lot of kids play around there, and pretty recklessly," she said. "It happens all year round, whether school's in session or not. All seasons. Kids are just attracted to that."

Baier thinks there should be more than just a fence.

"I think [teachers] need to be educating the kids on the dangers of the water and water safety, especially around wintertime because the ice could break there," she said.

Her mom, Kerry Baier, agreed but added, "I think the whole neighbourhood area needs to be educated and it would be nice if there was just more signage out there and maybe pamphlets or a way of airing on our local TV channels."

Text-heavy, weather-aged welcome signs erected by the city near the pond do warn that the pond is unsupervised and that "people using the ponds do so at their own risk."

"Please use this pond safely," they read in small font, under larger text saying "Welcome to Dundonald Pond."

Kerry Baier was "heartsick" when she heard the news about Elmmi's Sept. 11 death.

"I've got an 18-year-old daughter here," she said, gesturing toward Michelle, "and if that would have happened to my child at that age, that would have just made me sick."

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

The city is hosting two public meetings this week. The first is for parents of children attending École Dundonald School and takes place Tuesday night.

A second meeting, meant for the wider Dundonald neighbourhood, will take place at the Dundonald School library Wednesday starting at 6:30 p.m.

The recommendations come from a committee made up of people from the City of Saskatoon and the public and Catholic school boards, according to the city.