Staff

Writer

The

tinkling bells of the neighborhood ice cream truck could

be history at Peachtree City's four pool sites if

recreation officials can link recent episodes of kids

throwing up in the pools with eating ice cream pops prior

to swimming.

Banning

stops by the familiar white truck at the city's pools was

"thought about" last week, according to Randy

Gaddo, director of leisure services for Peachtree City,

following a "spate of children throwing up in the

pools," forcing three pools to close for the

mandatory 24-hour period.

"The

manager at Kedron [pools] noticed that right after the

ice cream truck came, the children got sick," Gaddo

said. "We talked about it [banning ice cream truck

stops], but taking ice cream away from the kids would

cause more problems," Gaddo added. "I think it

was coincidental that it happened and I have not detected

a trend in the two years I've been here."

He said he

and the pool managers are taking a "wait and

see" approach.

Gaddo said

the truck stopping at the Kedron Aquatic Center has been

asked this week to park in a spot that would allow for

safer sidewalk access for children buying treats, and

eliminate traffic congestion. Prior to the city's

request, Gaddo said the truck created a safety problem,

causing children to run out in the road to buy ice cream

and forcing cars entering the parking lot to squeeze

past.

Lifeguards

at the city's pools are also cracking down on patrons

eating on the pool decks. "It's been a long-standing

rule," Gaddo said, prohibiting food within the

fenced pool areas. "There's a problem with the food

wrappers; the wrappers get into the pump system," he

said, causing costly pump repairs. He also noted that

people get careless. "It can get messy," Gaddo

said.

Tresa

Lingler, a Peachtree City mom who frequents Glenloch pool

with her daughter during the summer, was told last week

that no food was allowed in the pool area after she

opened up her Cheetos and soft drink. "I was told we

would have to go outside the gate to eat it,"

Lingler said.

"If

that's the case, then they need to get a designated spot

with a picnic table and a trash can," Lingler

suggested. "You can't expect children to go to the

pool for several hours without having something to

eat."

Gaddo said

the city placed tables at Kedron and will have a table

soon at Glenloch. "Pebble Pocket has that nice

grassy area away from the pool where you can eat,"

Gaddo observed.

Drinks not

contained in glass bottles are allowed at the pools.

Receptacles for aluminum cans and all other trash are

provided near the drink machines.

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