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CLEAR Temp: 73 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Saturday, August 30, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 25, 2003 Toby Sherbow, 13, of Ashland uses a rope swing, since removed by the city, to take a dip in the Granite Street reservoir in Ashland. City workers will cut any rope that replaces the ones they�ve removed so far. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven End of their rope Ashland swimming-hole swing falls victim to liability issues By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Potential harm trumped summer fun this week as city parks crews twice removed a popular rope swing at a city reservoir so no one would get hurt. "We’ll get some injuries there that we don’t want to see," said Steve Gies, interim Ashland parks and recreation director. "Sometimes you have to make those decisions." Since the start of summer, crowds of people — mostly teens, mostly boys — have been swinging over the Granite Street reservoir on a long rope strung from a tall tree. "It was just a cool thing," said Simon Weibel, 16, of Ashland. "You could do back flips off it and stuff." Advertisement No injuries have been reported, Gies said. But just to be safe, he asked crews to cut down the rope on Tuesday. On Thursday, there was a new rope in place. "Whoever went up the tree went up 30 or 40 feet," he said. City crews cut that rope short, too, to the dismay of swingers like Simon and his friends. "I think it was stupid. I think it was stupid that they cut it down," said Simon, who’ll be a junior at Ashland High School next year. The decision to cut the rope irked not only teen swingers, but also those critical of an increasingly litigious society. "Everybody’s covering their butt because they don’t want to get sued," said Kevin Mason, 47, of Ashland, who allowed his 16-year-old son, Morgan, to visit the reservoir. "Maybe they should pave all the steps of the library because someone might get hurt. A rope swing? That’s good, clean fun." Bob Weibel, Simon’s father, said the city’s action was symptomatic of a larger social problem. "There’s this idea: ‘Let’s have a risk-free world for our kids," said Weibel, 53, a manager with a music catalog company. "But if these boys do not have a chance to take educated risks, they won’t develop right. They won’t be the kind of young men we want and need in this society." Gies didn’t get that philosophical about the issue. Part of the problem is that the city no longer provides lifeguards at the Granite Street reservoir and can’t monitor the safety of visitors. "It was a pretty good little chunk out of our swimming budget," he said. Some local residents sympathized with the city’s dilemma. "I don’t blame them, it’s a huge liability issue," said Jan McDermott, 42, whose 16-year-old son has visited the reservoir. "There are ways to have fun without the city being on the line." Would-be swingers shouldn’t bother replacing the rope, Gies said, because it’ll just come down again. "We’ll probably stay after it," he said. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times