The repetitive flooding at Emporia Child Care Center III, 420 W. 15th Ave., is caused by alterations made to the playground, a county official said Tuesday.
Chip Woods, Lyon County engineer, said the county has been out to survey the area outside the building, which is county-owned and also houses the Flint Hills Community Health Center. A story thatran in Saturday’s Gazette explained Emporia Child Care’s flooding situation.
Deb Crowl, Emporia Child Care Center administrator, said the center has flooded three times in 2 1/2 years. In the overnight hours of Aug. 6, water poured into three classrooms, a hallway, the kitchen and conference room. Water was standing up to four inches in some places, Crowl said.
Woods said Tuesday afternoon that the natural drainage path is in the middle of the area, which is now a playground.
“They built a sidewalk and playground in the middle of the drainage path,” Woods said.
In a tour of the center Thursday afternoon, however, Crowl said she didn’t think the flooding was related to the playground being built.
Woods said Lyon County is working with the City of Emporia to find a solution to prevent future flooding.