Rockland Writes: Taking O-Fence

Dear Editor,

After the second near drowning at Lake Suzanne in the last nine months, understandably, the community is shaken. Our electeds have even come out on the record on Rockland Daily here, talking about safety and trying to calm the waters after the push to have the lake fenced in has again risen to the surface. 

While we all understand the terror these two episodes have caused to spread in a very clear ripple effect, we all must take a step back and assess the situation calmly and reasonably. 

All of this focus on Lake Suzanne seems a little out of place when considering that it is not the only local lake where an inordinate number of children can be found playing nearby. What about Eugene Levy Park? There is a lake there as well in a CHILDREN's park! Where is the hue and cry that the lake must also be fenced in? 

There is only radio silence because, for those who are thinking clearly, a fence around a lake will never deter children. Where there is a will, there is a way  - and come what may, they will wriggle under or launch themselves over or through any fence around a public lake. Once that happens, the fence will become more of a deterrent than a boon. It will slow down emergency personnel who rush to the rescue. This will cause the loss of precious minutes while bystanders watching the emergency unfold will definitely talk among themselves, wondering aloud who the fool was that insisted a fence surround the lake.  

The same logic is applied to putting gates outside windows in the upper stories of a home. Sure, gates keep children from falling out, but they also keep firefighters from getting in, so they are illegal to install in Rockland County. Instead, parents are expected to take charge of the situation and look out for their children in another manner.

So what is to be done? Educate your children. That is the best answer in any case. Just like we educate children to look both ways before crossing the street instead of placing barriers around each avenue, and just like we educate children to put on a seatbelt or to stay away from the edge of the path on a steep hike - children need to be educated on how to behave if they live near a body of water.

As a matter of fact, that education has paid off for those who live in the Lake Suzanne neighborhood because both boys who suffered near-drowning experiences in the lake were not from the Lake Suzanne area at all but were visiting. 

Though we must always try to be vigilant and soften the blow as kids careen down the path of life, we will not ever be able to fence them off from their journey entirely - all we can do is guide them to the best of our ability and daven that Hashem watches out for them as well. 

Sincerely,

Zisi Schoenberg