Lee’s Summit Water Park has been in the news because it is facing allegations of racially discriminating against the black family with the racist Summit Waves video viral
The Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation (LSPR)-owned and -operated Summit Waves water park in Missouri has lately made headlines because it is embroiled in a racism controversy and is being accused of prejudice against black families. However, they have expressed regret over the entire chain of events, they refuted allegations of racism.
Lee’s Summit Water Park Accused Of Being Racist After Kansas City Family Is Denied Entry Into Summit Waves, Racism Video Goes Viral
A racial discrimination act has been caught on tape. A Kansas City family was racially discriminated against at a Lee’s Summit water park.
Now to be clear the family did show up with over 500 people. The park was expecting 250. Does that matter? Yes or No? pic.twitter.com/Jiin3IILld
— Unapologetically BLACK (@BlackNegus01) August 10, 2022
Kansas City youth group was denied access into Summit Waves Water Park in Lee’s Summit, Missouri due to their skin color.
Summit Waves owner said she “didn’t feel comfortable” and “they didn’t represent Summit Waves”. pic.twitter.com/8agn5IKy18
— CHOOSY (@CH005Y) August 10, 2022
It all started when the event organised by the father of a 17-year-old teenager’s birthday party at the water park in Lee’s Summit, close to Kansas City, was abruptly cancelled by the park’s authorities.
Following a viral video with 1.7 million views showing Evans and his wife asking a park staffer for an explanation, the event has received widespread attention. Since then, the mayor of the city and the water park have both released comments and this issue has now become a huge deal.
So, let’s find out more about it:
Why Lee’s Summit Water Park Is Facing Racism Allegations?
According to the Kansas City Star, Chris Evans, a father of two kids, said that his family was the victim of racial profiling after the Summit Waves water park outside of Kansas City cancelled their reservation for a birthday party.
Evans said that he had planned a $1,900 birthday celebration for his kid at Summit Waves when the park notified him through email that the event had been abruptly postponed. The father allegedly said, according to The Independent, that he had received an email claiming that the event didn’t “reflect Lee’s Summit Waves.”
Evans and his wife also met police officers and park staff as they reach the park’s gate, as shown in a popular TikTok video in the Independent’s story.
According to Kansas City Star, on Tuesday, August 9, Evans and his counsel discussed the situation in public. During the press conference, Evans questioned,
What are you scared of, Lee’s Summit? Why are you uncomfortable?
What Is The Reaction Of Water Park On All This?
In a letter of apology to the family and the larger community, LSPR claimed that all community members were welcome at the facility. The company also released an official statement on this matter, which said,
Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation has completed an internal review of the cancellation of a private event scheduled for August 6. The review identified missed processes and miscommunication that led to the cancelation. A sincere apology is owed to the Evans family and our Lee’s Summit community.
Mayor of Lee’s Summit William Baird also declared that a thorough inquiry had been started as a result of the occurrence. Baird urged the business to “re-evaluate” how it interacts with visitors so that everyone is given “dignity and respect.”