Lansdowne Park water feature still confuses some despite new signs

Some visitors to Lansdowne Park say they're still confused about a new water feature even after the city installed signs trying to keep people out of a sunken pool.

Uplift is a tall sculpture made of granite and brushed stainless steel. At its base is a small sunken pool that catches water from 55 water jets protruding from the ground nearby.

People are allowed to play in the water jets but the pool and the sculpture are off-limits.

Emily Green, who visited the site with her two children on Wednesday, said she was "very confused" by the recently installed signs.

"I'm not sure what is art and what is not, according to the sign. It's beautiful, but I'm just confused about what we're supposed to do here or if we are allowed to play," she said.

The signs, posted high up on wooden posts, have an arrow pointing to the sculpture with the words "Artwork, please stay off."

A second arrows points in the opposite direction, stating "Play Area." Green thinks the arrow points to the Aberdeen Pavillion and not to the water jets on the ground below the sign.

She also said children are going to play in the off-limits sunken pool because it's close to the water jets, whether there are signs or not.

"Maybe put up some kind of gate or something until they decide what to do in the long term, because people are going to go in no matter what without some kind of protection around [the pool]," she said.

'I thought it was ... a wading pool'

Natasha Ngwafusi, who takes care of two small children who were playing in the water Wednesday, said the sunken pool is dangerous.

"Why would they make it a play area and then put that dangerous part there? I can see children getting hurt there sooner or later, especially if the parents aren't watching properly," she said.

"They might think it was a pool and want to go in. That's what I thought ... I thought it was a little pool, a wading pool or something for them. I didn't realize that. They need to make this more clear," she said.

The city declined to grant an interview. In an emailed statement Wednesday, the city said there had been no safety incidents at the site and that the signage directs visitors to the play area.

The artist who designed the sculpture, Jill Anholt, referred all questions to the city.