sandestin playground=toxic waste dump?

[raven]

Another example of how we in America are a symptom solver and not a problem solver. The signs are probably erected to reduce liabilty.

"Well, mam, we posted a sign saying that the tires are hot. Now why did you let your kid play on the playground, knowing that the tires were hot? We warned you."

The interesting part is that IMO, they are exposing themselves to greater risk because posting the signs, informs us that Sandestin is aware of the problem, yet they still allow the playground to remain open, even though there is potential danger.

I recall a case where a thief won a bunch of money, after jumping a fence surrounding a property. The fence had many signs, warning would-be thieves of the danger of the guard dog. The thief was attacked and badly wounded by the dog, which in court, was proven to be purchased for the sole purpose of attacking thieves. The thief won based on the fact that the owner had posted the signs, basically admitting that the owner intentionally put the attack dog on the property to destroy any tresspassers. Had the owner not posted the signs, warning of the attack dog, it is likely that the thief would have walked away injured, and without substantial award from the jury because it would have been difficult to prove that the owner was aware that the dog was a vicious attack dog.

LOVE IT! symptom solvers not problem solvers!

that requires not only intellect, but concern for one's neighbor. i have failed to see sandestin express through its actions any concern for residents or visitors. so to them...these safety issues are not problems. in their minds, the problem is that people are complaining! a sign doesn't solve the problem of hurt kids or an unsafe playground, and, like you said, it doesn't even protect them legally, but they aren't interested in any of the above. the symptom they wish to alleviate is residents or guests talking to them or asking them to do something.

the "beware of dog" anecdote is a PERFECT example of how that kind of thing plays out in court!

 

[full time]

Does anyone know a good lawyer? We need to file an injunction to prevent children from playing at Sandestin. It's scary dangerous over there.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Now, I must say, as you approach the play area, you notice an incease in ambient temperature (maybe 5-10 degrees) due to the heat retention of the shredded tires.

Interesting observation. So on a hot August day when air temp reaches 98F degrees, the ambient temp around the play area may be around 108F degrees. Can you say heat stroke?

 

[raven]

Interesting observation. So on a hot August day when air temp reaches 98F degrees, the ambient temp around the play area may be around 108F degrees. Can you say heat stroke?

sandestin doesn't have the same breezes so the area where the playground is located is frequently VERY hot and it doesn't even need to be august to reach those temps! mangos used to have fans with water spray to keep the area cool and kids would go there to cool down, but they removed those. in addition, several more trees in the area have been removed, creating a more arid environment.

 

[Mullet123]

sandestin doesn't have the same breezes so the area where the playground is located is frequently VERY hot and it doesn't even need to be august to reach those temps! mangos used to have fans with water spray to keep the area cool and kids would go there to cool down, but they removed those. in addition, several more trees in the area have been removed, creating a more arid environment.

Would it be fair to say that you do not like living in Sandestin?

 

[SHELLY]

i understand they are pretending to "market" to families now (ie. lots of pictures of kids in their promotional material), but well-educated and experienced business people know that marketing is not a slogan it's how you build and run your business. this is not business that has children or families in mind. ie. their new website which lists: drinking coffee, getting your hair bleached and drinking at a bar as fun activities for "sandestin teens". after expressing my concern to intrawest about this outrageous promotional text given problems with underage drinking in the village, i was told that was sandestin's perogative.

Intrawest was 'bought out' last Fall by the private-equity firm Fortress Investment Group LLC...private equity is ONLY in business to make maximum profit for its partners.

Rumor on the street was that Fortress really wanted Intrawest's Ski Resorts, but had to buy and take on the debt of the whole kit-n-kaboodle (which included Sandestin) for what was termed a "cheap price."

Hoping that Fortress is going to aggressively "develop and market" Sandestin?....good luck with that. :roll: My guess is they will unload it at the first opportunity.

But if you want in on the action, Fortress went public in February of this year...ticker 'FIG'--as in 'something that hides private parts.'

.

 

[GoodWitch58]

I thought they just got sold again...within the last month. Anyone know? or am I dreaming?

 

[raven]

Intrawest was 'bought out' last Fall by the private-equity firm Fortress Investment Group LLC...private equity is ONLY in business to make maximum profit for its partners.

Rumor on the street was that Fortress really wanted Intrawest's Ski Resorts, but had to buy and take on the debt of the whole kit-n-kaboodle (which included Sandestin) for what was termed a "cheap price."

Hoping that Fortress is going to aggressively "develop and market" Sandestin?....good luck with that. :roll: My guess is they will unload it at the first opportunity.

But if you want in on the action, Fortress went public in February of this year...ticker 'FIG'--as in 'something that hides private parts.'

.

shelly, that's exactly the case. fortress buys out failing companies on the cheap. after they bought last oct, i had hoped for some changes and some did come. there were firings, but i suspect it will take a scenario where the bottom line becomes unacceptable, then they'll just dump it. fortress' job is to make cash, not run resorts. that'll probably happen around the winter olympics. they'll need more cash to infuse on their primary business by then. dunno who would buy it though.

mullet, if i didn't care. i wouldn't bother. actually, i think sandestin has tremendous potential. it's not an issue of "love or hate" anything, if you CARE, you WANT to make it better. it's awful to hear all the complaints from visitors and others who say they will "never come back" to this area because of their experience at sandestin. and they have no personal commitment to this area or reason to make a change, they aren't going to waste their time complaining or explaining what's wrong, especially when people are so agressively defensive about hearing it. they just move on to somewhere else. meanwhile, i don't think it's ok for children and families to suffer from an unsafe environment. especially when there's a fuedal system that ensures residents who are employees or whose meal ticket is tied to the resort keep quiet!

you have to be pragmatic. nothing is perfect, but the response to problems in sandestin is really the issue here. to be defensive or ignore things instead of taking an open, problem-solving tact is really worrisome.

i think it's sad when people don't care enough to ensure the safety and well-being of others. makes it hard to be their neighbor or establish community when they make it clear it's "not their problem". and it's difficult to understand what the motives are.

let's be honest here. this is NOT about money. this is about control.

heck, if only they would exploit the marketability of the area like effective business people it would, as a byproduct, make things better! even four seasons and ritz carlton have dumped all their resources into developing safe, kid-friendly, all-inclusive family resorts because they GET that's where the cash is. now some of you will balk at mentioning those high-end luxury chains, but you should understand their pricing is comparable to sandestin's so it's the same market.

 

[raven]

p.s. it's the fact i think this place is too precious to squander that is why i even bother. i understand my approach is antithetical to the culture in sandestin.

i get that the status quo is to sit around and slap each other on the back for a job well done, but that's not the behavior of a pro-active, responsive and caring community. a community is only as good as how it treats its most vulnerable. if you want a better town, you have to be willing to be self-critical and excited instead of fearful about changes that will make things better for people and the environment.

 

[Mullet123]

Raven

How do you think the marketibility of our area is affected by you suggesting it is a toxic waste dump?

If you have taken your complaints to the highest level at the Resort, which I doubt you have, and not received the desired result, I will bet it was a function of your request. I reviewed this entire thread and I could not imagine a non hostile confrontation taking place between you and the Resort management.

Respectful complaints are respectfully heard.