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Jilly_in_VA

(10,838 posts)
Tue Aug 9, 2022, 05:11 PM Aug 2022

Missouri family says racism led to pool party cancellation

A Black family says racism prompted officials at a suburban Kansas City water park to cancel a private pool party for their 17-year-old son’s birthday during the weekend.

Chris Evans said he signed a contract with Summit Waves Aquatic Facility in Lee’s Summit to host 250 people for the party on Saturday. But when his sons arrived at the park they were told the reservation was canceled and were not given a reason, Evans said at a news conference Tuesday.

Evans said he and his wife learned while they were on the way to the water park that “this event doesn’t represent Lee’s Summit Waves and that my reservation was canceled because (a park official) was uncomfortable,” The Kansas City Star reported.

That official, flanked by police officers, met the parents when they arrived and reiterated that the party would not be held.

“What are you scared of, Lee’s Summit?” Evans asked at the news conference. “Why are you uncomfortable?”

https://apnews.com/article/travel-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-parks-4b8fbb7e877bd6355d0cc7ba90bd00c8

Sure sounds like it.

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Missouri family says racism led to pool party cancellation (Original Post) Jilly_in_VA Aug 2022 OP
The Rebl2 Aug 2022 #1
According to local news they put the party inviteon social media and about 500 people justhanginon Aug 2022 #2
This. Cracklin Charlie Aug 2022 #3
The park can stop entrance at 250 no matter who "shows up" that's the number they let in ... uponit7771 Aug 2022 #5
Not this Anguiped Aug 2022 #4
THIS !!!! ☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾 LSWP admits they didn't staff for the event correctly. uponit7771 Aug 2022 #6

Rebl2

(14,561 posts)
1. The
Tue Aug 9, 2022, 05:21 PM
Aug 2022

mayor of Lee’s Summit has called out the manager of Summit Waves. He said it was uncalled for.
I live about ten minutes away from l.s. It’s a very ‘red’ city.

justhanginon

(3,322 posts)
2. According to local news they put the party inviteon social media and about 500 people
Tue Aug 9, 2022, 05:35 PM
Aug 2022

showed up but the reservation was for about 200. City officials say they have video corroborating that.

Cracklin Charlie

(12,904 posts)
3. This.
Tue Aug 9, 2022, 06:44 PM
Aug 2022

The staff of the pool complex was expecting 250 guests.

When 500 showed up, they probably didn’t have enough staff on hand to safely accommodate that many swimmers. These places have very strict rules about how many lifeguards must be on staff.

Maybe the situation could have been handled better, but pool businesses must follow the regulations, or they could be shut down.

uponit7771

(91,607 posts)
5. The park can stop entrance at 250 no matter who "shows up" that's the number they let in ...
Thu Aug 11, 2022, 06:23 AM
Aug 2022

... the park is trying to save face and making things worse for themselves.

Anguiped

(7 posts)
4. Not this
Tue Aug 9, 2022, 07:06 PM
Aug 2022

No. Like any number of events in any number of event spaces, capacity enforcement is just a standard part of doing business. If you paid for 250 guest then you are allowed 250 guests and the rest are not allowed entry. This is a post incident fabricated excuse meant to dilute and distract.

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