Hi All - I sent an email to Lake Pleasant and received the following reply (to which I replied).
Thanks, Ruth!
I think several dive shops would be interested in hosting a booth. I will pass along your comments and mark my calendar to followup for next year.
I look forward to hearing more about the signs and web. Lake Pleasant is a great place!
Take care, c.
Cindy Fox
From: Ruth McCormick - PARKSX [mailto:ruthmccormick@mail.maricopa.gov]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 8:28 AM
To: Cindy Fox
Subject: RE: Diver Down Flags
Thank you for your comment. The park understands your concern and shares your interest in keeping our guests safe in the lake. I will forward your email to the park supervisor who will alert the appropriate law enforcement personnel about these issues. She will also make the decision about park signage and web content.
In the meantime, you may be interested to know that Lake Pleasant Regional Park hosts and sponsors the Arizona Safe Boating Celebration where we offer free vessel safety inspections and inform boaters about boating laws and safe boating practices. The park is proud to be the site of the only safe boating celebration in the entire state. This years fifth celebration was held on Saturday, May 17th from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and each boat owner who entered the park received the handbook that you reference below.
The committee understands that visual aids raise awareness more quickly than printed literature that may end up in a glove box. Therefore, each year, the committee offers several safety information booths that boat owners may visit while their boat is being inspected. Currently, the celebration does not offer a booth that addresses swimmer or diver safety. If you know of an organization that is interested in hosting such a booth in May 2009, please let me know. Here is the link to the event website for more information:
Arizona Safe Boating Celebration
Again, we appreciate your comments and hope that your next experience to the park is safe and more enjoyable.
Ruth McCormick
Maricopa County Parks and Recreation
Lake Pleasant Regional Park
(602) 372-7460, ext. 200
Parks & Recreation - Maricopa County
________________________________________
From: Cindy Fox [mailto:cindyfox@butterflyconsulting.com]
Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 4:07 PM
To: Lake Pleasant Park
Subject: Diver Down Flags
Hello!
Im a SCUBA diver that frequents Lake Pleasant. Recently there have been a number of incidents of boaters not understanding the diver down flag, including boats motoring directly over divers training underwater. With the number of divers in Lake Pleasant, Id like to investigate what we, as divers, can do to help inform the boating community of the safety hazards. Some ideas the community has include posting signs at Lake Pleasant boat ramps and including the information on your website.
Would you be agreeable to signs and web addition? If so, are there certain regulations governing sign size and placement or could you order signs and tell us the cost that we might need to raise to support such an effort?
Any ideas you have would be welcome! Ive attached a suggested sign style. Id be glad to write up web content if needed.
Please feel free to forward my email to anyone who might be able to help us increase diver safety.
Thank you!
Take care, c.
Cindy Fox
cindyfox@butterflyconsulting.com
Butterfly Consulting LLC
Butterfly Consulting LLC
(602) 692-8923