Warning signs at Oxford fountain have short life

Prairie Village Public Works crews on Wednesday removed the two signs they’d put up two weeks earlier warning residents that the Oxford Road fountain was not for playing. Initially, Public Works said the signs were necessary to protect the city from liability should a child get sick from playing in the fountain, which does not have treated water.

But neighbors protested that the signs weren’t necessary and that the threat of infection from the fountain was minimal. After hearing the initial response from neighbors, McNabb said the department was considering removing at least one of them. Wednesday, he said both signs were being removed for good, and that the city had no plans to take further action on the matter.

Ashley Weaver, the new City Councilor who lives down the street from the signs, said the city made the right move.

“Since I frequent this fountain often, I’ve had ample opportunity to speak with residents regarding these signs,” she said via email. “The overwhelming responses I received from residents indicated that the signs were unnecessary and needed to be removed. I believe the city responded appropriately by listening to the desires of the residents and removing the signs completely.”

The signs cost a total of $60 to install.