Morinville residents are still coming to terms with the drowning of a toddler in their community, while others are calling on the Town to help prevent further tragedies.

Resident and father Charles Widenmaier said he was surprised when the Town decided to build the park and lake with no fence between the two.

“In the spring time of 2014 I came out here and I spoke to one of the workers,” he told CTV News, “I said, ‘I don’t see any holes for a fence.’ He said, ‘Buddy, there is no fence going up.’

“I was very disappointed because I believe that is what we call an inviting hazard.”

Widenmaier said he has seen many near-misses in the area.

“There have been times where I have been on my deck and I have seen children walking towards the open water course while a parent has been on that park bench distracted.

“If you notice the steepness of the bank, a small child, once they start walking over there can easily tumble right down into that water.”

He said he hopes the Town does the right thing and fences off both the park and the nearby storm water pond.

Mother and newcomer to Morinville Laura Fyffe said she too sees the need for a fence.

“It is definitely something that needs to be addressed. There needs to be some sort of gate even if it is just around the park and around the lake. There needs to be some sort of security.

“There is a playground and then there is a body of water near it. You never know. It only takes a second. You turn your back to maybe tend to another child or something and something bad can happen like that.”

A memorial has gone up near the pond where the 2-year-old girl drowned Saturday morning.

With files from Josh Skurnik