On August 2, the Riga City Council opened the €165,000 art object "Together at the Dome" in the heart of the Old Town.
Less than two weeks later, the swings installed inside the site turned out to be dangerous.
A girl's mother told LTV that her 11-year-old daughter was seriously injured when swinging, breaking both legs. Other children also pointed out that the swing would crush their legs when they swung faster.
A week ago, a Riga resident noticed that the swings can be dangerous. He contacted the Riga City Council, but, in his own words, there was no response.
"They are talking about national security. But the insecurity is here. This is the last nonsense you can imagine. They don't react. Roach brain," said Modris Pakuls, a resident of Riga.
The Riga City Council pointed out that a thorough engineering inspection had been carried out before the installation and operation of the facility. There was also an engineering opinion on the safety of the facility.
"This is not a playground, but an environmental object, and visitors need to be aware of this," said Jānis Krievkalns, Head of the Urban Art and Design Department at Riga City Council.
However, architect Toms Kampars stated just before the opening of the object that "the main idea is about social inclusion. It's for people from all walks of life - a passer-by on their way to work who stops here unplanned, tourists, a younger audience - children, young people - we would love it if people saw it as a building for them."
The use of the swings has been suspended until the circumstances are clarified.
Toms Kampars now said: "For our environmental object, which is like an art object, safety was a high priority, it has been the number one issue. Operation depends on people's participation. And in the safety instructions we have asked people to be cautious and to take the use seriously."
The authors promise to check it thoroughly and to remedy any shortcomings. The art object was insured, so the victims could seek compensation.
