PARK EQUIPMENT REMOVED AS PRECAUTION

Swinging horses on the playground of Cape Girardeau County Park South have been removed as a precaution after an inspection of playground equipment last week.

The heavy, molded plastic swings might be dangerous, said Bruce Watkins, park superintendent.

No one was hurt, but warnings have been issued concerning some molded plastic swings.

"The Consumer Products Safety Commission folks put out a letter to all kinds of parks that these were a hazard," said Joe Sherinski, chairman of the county parks and recreation board.

"We have regular safety inspections by MoPerm," Sherinski said. "And those heavy-duty molded plastic swings are dangerous. We were aware of that. We took them down."

MoPerm is the county's insurance company.

The swings were purchased in 1986. No injuries have been reported, Watkins said.

"But we thought it would be best to remove them," said Watkins.

"We're going to put up some baby swings instead. We've had a lot of requests for those, and now we have room."

The inspector looked at all the equipment in the park, but county officials haven't received the final report.

When the inspector raised a concern about the horse swings, park officials decided to remove them immediately.