Fox Brook Park — Attraction in Brookfield

I arrived with my wife, our 16month and 3yr old, after we paid and finally got to swimming we were then instructed we were not allowed to use the floatation vest for our youngest or the floaties for our 3 year old. I inquired in to the reasoning as to why as I also saw others being told the same, they told me that they only allow coast guard approved floatation devices.

Naturally I would assume that some form of floatation device is better for a child who can't swim rather than no floatation device therefore I asked if there was anything posted before I paid, they told me there was not. Furthermore they claimed it was stated in the Beach rules. Well I went and checked the beach rules and that is the picture I have attached, there is nothing written anywhere that states this rule.

As a parent that constantly worries for the safety of my children I can understand that there are things we want to do to ensure our children's continued safety, although when we are forced to make a situation less safe due to rules in place that do not make sense, I am forced to question why.

We are always required to be within arms reach of our own children, and I imagine most parents would do that anyways with such young ones. What I cannot understand is that there is a higher statistical chance of a child drowning with no floatation device, and this is what is required.

Spend more money on a floatation device that is coast guard approved and ultimately safer than non coast guard approved floatation devices... But you're not allowed to use non coast guard approved floatation devices and they would rather you put your child at greater risk with no floatation device.

This is a kind of logic that I don't believe anyone would understand. I truly am...

This was my first and last time at Fox Brooklyn Park, I was not aware of the swimming rules before I came ( no floatation devices) so ok, I wasn't about to return my tube to the vehicle,I just wouldn't use it except to sit on the beach no big deal my mistake for not checking before I came, but then it was 5 pm life gaurds start to leave but before they do a life gaurd and what looks like a park ranger with a all mighty attitude come over and inforce the no tube policy in the most rude and threatening manner. I wish I could explain this young ladys tone and how we'd be watched, now I'm 43yrs old and my other friends are 40 yrs old, we understand rules. Most worse experience at a park will never return and the young lady and park rangers need to rethink the positions at Fox Brook Park, horrible attitudes and public relations, the park rangers said they will be consequences if we brought the tubes out and would be watched the whole time, and Yes he did watch. It did look fun for young children to splash around and that is the only good...

About a year ago, after paying the fee just to get into the park, we attempted to rent a paddle boat. Despite every sign saying there was an hour+ left to rent them, there was no one available at the rental shack. There was a sign stating to go to the main building, also no one available. My GF then popped her head into the only area we could find with employees and they couldn't help us for whatever reason. Eventually we decided to just walk the trail around the quarry lake. At a point we walked onto a little peninsula and proceeded to get yelled at by the lifeguards. Apparently that was a big no no marked by a tiny postcard-sized sign that we were supposed to notice before we got out there.

The bottom line. We paid money to go into a park that we weren't allowed to do much of anything in. They even patrol the trail on their little golf cart looking for ne'er do wells. I was never the trouble-making type but even I thought a lot of their "rules" (being over a year ago I don't remember which) were complete BS and...