Hamilton’s Wild Waterworks are reviewing “how best to meet safety standards and follow guidelines and restrictions while still providing the best possible visitor experience.”
Sarah Gauden, from the Hamilton Conservation Authority, who operate the outdoor water park, made the comment in an e-mail to the Sun on Friday after some visitors have complained about Wild Waterworks safety policy to weigh all patrons before using their water slides.
Gauden said “tube slides have a combined weight limit of 400 lbs and body slides have a weight limit of 300 lbs.”
“In an effort not to offend specific individuals, ALL riders are being asked to go on the scales before being permitted on the attraction,” said her statement. “Scale readings are viewed by the slide attendants and not broadcast to the public.”
Former Hamilton native Amy Ormrod, who now lives in Calgary, recently visited the attraction on June 30 with her young son, 4, and some friends.
She was excited about recreating one of her favourite childhood memories with him but when she saw kids getting weighed and a sign requiring all visitors to step onto the scale she opted for the wave pool instead.
“I wanted to take him down his first water slide because that was my first water slide,” said Ormrod.
“I walked over and there was this scale with a big sign and I was like, ‘What’s this? Yeah, I’m not doing that. I’m sorry.’ Those slides have been there since I was kid for like 25 years and now they just start weighing you? I do have a problem with it. I could see people walk up and do the same thing I did, just stand there and then walk away.”
Still, Gauden said it’s the water slide manufacturers, who “have set maximum weight limits for safely riding the attraction. Those limits have been in place since the slides were installed and are not new or a policy the HCA decided to implement.”
When asked specifically when the slides – and thus scales – were installed and how weight leads to being unsafe, Gauden didn’t respond by press time.
Ormrod, who said she’s “been overweight her entire life,” said there are other options the water park – which was last open in 2019 but closed due to the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 – can explore if it’s a safety issue.
“Like Disneyland is renowned for being what we call fat-friendly in the fat community,” said Ormrod.
“So instead of being an ableist (discriminating against those with disabilities), make it work. Let’s make it accommodating for people. Being obese is a recognized disability. In order to have fun you have to fit in this little box?”
Ormrod points to such things being used in the states as non-numerical scale systems in which people being weighed would get a red (stop) or green (proceed) light or a test seat discreetly placed around the corner from a ride.
“There are ways around it,” she said.
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