DEBUQUE, Ia (WQAD) – One city in Iowa is now banning sledding in most public places. City leaders say the practice poses a safety concern and they don’t want to be held liable.
Sledding is outlawed in 48 of the city’s 50 parks, citing two recent major lawsuits: one $2 million dollar judgement against Omaha, Nebraska, after a five-year-old girl was paralyzed from sledding into a tree; and another $2.75 million dollar payment in Sioux City, Iowa, when a man suffered a spinal cord injury after sledding into a sign.
DuBuque isn’t the only city that has banned sledding.
In 2007, Sioux City, Iowa outlawed sledding in all but two of their city parks.
For kids still wanting to sled, there are designated “Safe Sledding Hills” in 2 city parks.
According to one study, as many as 20,000 kids a year are taken to the hospital with sledding-related injuries.
