Barre removes merry-go-round from park due to insurance company concerns

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 March 2020 at 6:31 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers

BARRE – The merry-go-round at the Barre Town Park was removed today by the highway department.

The town’s insurance provider, New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal, said the merry-go-round posed a safety risk and considered its removal a high priority. A merry-go-round can be dangerous to get on or off while it is rotating.

The Town Board on Wednesday authorized Dale Brooks, highway superintendent, to take out the merry-go-round at the park on Route 98.

The town last year put in two loads of wood chips near the merry-go-round so children would be less likely to slide underneath it. But Pogue said that wasn’t enough to ease the concerns of NYMIR, the insurance provider.

NYMIR also urged the town to put concrete barriers on the edge of the parking lot so vehicles can’t drive on the playground. Pogue said those barriers are at the park and will be put in place soon by the highway department.

(The highway department also is repairing the backstop fence at the Little League field. Those repairs weren’t identified as an action item for the town by the insurance company but town officials want the fence in good shape for the upcoming baseball season.)

NYMIR also suggested the town clerk have a panic button that would alert law enforcement if there was a safety concern or emergency at the town hall. Pogue said the town officials are discussing installing a panic button.

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