Kitchener staff to improve splash pad safety after boy burned in Georgetown

Kitchener city staff have reacted quickly to a tragedy in Georgetown, Ont., where a toddler suffered second degree burns after walking on a hot metal cover plate near a city splash pad. 

The metal panel conceals a vault housing the water park's mechanics. It was in direct sunlight, making the metal lid extremely hot. 

Similar vaults are in place at two splash pads in Kitchener; the Victoria Park Splash Pad and the Kingsdale Splash Pad, located at 78 Wilson Ave.

Now city staff say they are looking at ways to make the areas surrounding splash pads safer.

"In light of that event that happened we're collaborating at this point and looking at some options that we could put in place that doesn't replace one hazard with another," said Mike Wigzell, Kitchener's supervisor of facilities management, the department responsible for the splash pads. 

Wigzell said there have never been any problems with the vaults in the past, but that the city is reviewing its procedures in response to the incident in Georgetown. 

In Waterloo there is only one splash pad. Its vault is located in a shaded area and covered with carpet.

Cambridge has 11 splash pads across the city. Cambridge officials haven't responded to CBC News requests for comment.