We like to eat at Red Robin at the Waterfront Shopping area. In nice weather we follow dinner with a stroll down the gravel walking trail to the pedestrian overpass. The kids then play by the fountain or we go to barnes and Noble. It's a great walk for a 2-4y/o, not too far and not too short.
Recently we noticed there is a missing part in the fence just before the Fish Market. The missing part of the fence is over 2.5 ft wide and there is 1 ft of earth on the other side of the fence before a drop off. After a 10-20foot straight drop off there's shoreline with a few large trees. The first thing done was to add a small chain hangning across the gap. 1 SINGLE chain. Now there's a longer chain configured in a way to block an adult. A small child could easily slip through and fall to certain peril. If the fall doesn't kill them the river certainly would.
I honestly CANNOT believe anyone in their right mind would think that is a sufficient temporary fix for the problem.
We are typically walking with 2 kids and 4 adults. Last night it was jus the 2 of us and Eli ran off ahead. I screamed to hubby in alarm and sprinted off. Half way to him my back acted up. Eli is fine....but I am not. In addition to how my back feels now (the day before vacation) I am wracked with guilt and worry. Guilt b/c I forgot about the hole being there (I though it was the other way that we sometimes walk) and about letting him run that far ahead to begin with. Worry that someone else's kid may get hurt there.
So I'm posting here to warn anyone thinking of walking with a young child from any restaurant along the water in the direction of the Fish Market (I think it's about 20ft before that restaurant along a huge hedge row). Please be careful.
I am attempting to call someone to report this. If management does not give a satisfactory answer, I'm wondering...what government office is the one to call to report safety issues. I'm pretty certain the walkway is part of the shopping center as a whole...but could it be city related instead?