JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A dedication ceremony was held Friday afternoon at Bruce Park in Arlington where a new playground was named in honor of Amari Harley, the 3-year-old who drowned in 2017 after falling into an unsecured septic tank at the park.
The Harley family and the city honored the toddler by holding a dedication ceremony for a new playground at Bruce Park.
“I just want to say I’m forever grateful for the work that we see at the park today,” said Amari’s mother, Jasmine Bates. “Just being able to bring his brothers and sisters out to the Amari Harley Playground. It is a bittersweet moment, but I’m just glad they have a safe place to come and enjoy where we know Amari’s spirit lives.”
Happening Now: Unveiling a plaque at an Arlington park, now named Amari Harley Playground pic.twitter.com/DGirTfGJnm
— Marilyn Parker (@MarilynParkerTV) February 26, 2021
The News4Jax I-Team learned the tank where Amari died had been the focus of two previous complaints filed with the city of Jacksonville. A month before the tragedy, an inspector reported the tank was unsecured.
Armari’s mother sued the city of Jacksonville and two contractors. One was later dropped from the lawsuit. The other, ERS Corp., settled with Amari’s family.
Months after Amari died, the city spent $837,525 to replace city parks’ septic tank lids. Heavy metal lids with locking devices now top 193 of the city’s septic tanks.
The family has fought for change since Amari’s death.
“This is my park. We grew up in this park,” Amari’s grandfather, Ronald Kelsey, told News4Jax. “We felt like the park hurt us, but we’re looking at it in a better light.”
“Our loss of Amari is the gain of every child that will ever step foot in a city of Jacksonville park,” said the family’s attorney, Kay Harper Williams. “Each one of those children is safer playing on those playgrounds and running through those parks as a result of Amari’s loss.”