Missouri man accuses park of racism after it canceled son's party
A father has accused a City water park of racism after it abruptly called off the birthday party for his son when 500 people allegedly arrived and made staff feel ‘uncomfortable.’
Chris Evans said he signed a $2,000 contract with Summit Waves Aquatic Facility in Lee’s Summit to host 250 people for his 17-year-old son’s birthday party on Saturday, but officials said a crowd twice the size appeared.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Evans said his family was told ‘this event doesn’t represent Lee’s Summit Waves’ and that his reservation was canceled because a park official was ‘uncomfortable.’
A video of the heated argument with the Evans family and a park employee shows the family demanding an answer, with the official not giving a clear response as she’s flanked by police officers.
‘If this was a large group of white folks, there wouldn’t be a problem,’ a family member tells the employee, who shakes her head no as the park denies the allegations.
Evans says: ‘I know you don’t know us, I just want to know why you’re uncomfortable with us.’
Chris Evans claimed his family was discriminated because of their race when the Summit Waves Aquatic Facility in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, canceled his son’s birthday party
Chris Evans and his wife (left) confronted a Park employee (right) about the cancelation on Saturday.
Evans signed a $2,000 contract to host 250 people, but officials said it failed to properly prepare and that it was uncomfortable with an alleged crowd of 500 people
Park officials claimed that a crowd twice the size of what was agreed on came for the birthday party, accusing the family of promoting the event on social media
Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation Department, which operates the water park, said in a statement issued Tuesday that it apologized to the Evans family because of miscommunication and missed processes that led to the cancellation.
The statement said its investigation found the department failed to arrange additional security for the party, which Evans paid for as part of his contract.
Parks officials said the family also promoted the event on social media despite the contract stating that would not happen.
Park department officials said up to 500 people showed up in the parking lot for the party, with the park having a size capacity limit of 600.
But Evans claimed the event was canceled before the teenagers arrived and there was ‘never anything close to 500 kids in the parking lot.’
‘My kids were heartbroken that the party was canceled,’ he said.
‘They are good kids who make good grades, have bright futures and do not deserve to be treated like this. And that goes for all the kids at the park that day.’
‘It appears to have been canceled simply because the park staff was uncomfortable with a group of Black teenagers having a pool party to enjoy the end of the summer,’ Evans said during Tuesday’s conference.
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Officials said they grew worried about the event after other parents called asking about party details and safety concerns due to the size.
After several unsuccessful efforts to reach the Evans prior to their arrival, the department decided to cancel the party, according to the statement.
‘Safety pertaining to the anticipated crowd size and the potential impact it might have on party guests and the staff was the sole reason for the cancellation,’ the statement said.
Evans said the party was for his son, Isaiah, 17, (left) who organized the party with is brother, Noah (right).
The two had saved up money to hold the party with friends
An investigation by Parks and Rec officials found that the park failed to arrange extra security for the event, which Evans had paid for.
Officials issued an apology to the family
Pictured: Several teens waiting outside Summit Waves Aquatic Facility
The employee arguing with parents repeatedly apologized for the incident and refuted claims of racism.
The city’s mayor said another employee had posted ‘disturbing’ comments on social media about the incident, leading to an apology for the family
Lee’s Summit Mayor William Baird on Tuesday criticized the department’s handling of the incident and denounced ‘appalling’ statements he said a park employee made on social media after the incident.
‘We must intentionally embrace a culture that is welcoming and inclusive, and we must continually denounce any urge or impulse to exclude,’ he said.
The parks department’s statement on Tuesday said its administrator apologized to the Evans family for ‘the inappropriate and insensitive language’ used by staff and said appropriate actions would be taken.
The department said it would review its rental processes, including communication, and improve training to align with the city’s diversity and inclusion efforts.
‘A sincere apology is owed to the Evans family and our Lee’s Summit community,’ Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation said in a statement.
‘LSPR strives to be a respectful and inclusive organization where all members of our community feel welcome and appreciated.
‘Inappropriate language, social media posts and behavior are not acceptable and will not be tolerated.’
The incident comes amid backlash against Sesame Street’s themes park and Chuck E.
Cheese, where black parents claimed their children were snubbed by costumed mascots due to their race.
As Cheese approaches, ecstasy ensues.
But the mouse leaves the two-year-old hanging and walks off
A video, shared widely on social media, shows two other black girls from New York apparently being snubbed by a costumed employee during a parade at the Sesame Street theme park in Langhorne, outside Philadelphia
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