Yesterday, the city of Independence unveiled a new and improved life jacket kiosk in Riverview Park—part of a community effort to enhance water safety along the Willamette River.
This project was inspired by the tragic loss of 13-year-old Gregorio Maximiano-Solano, who drowned near the park last summer. In response, the city partnered with Oregon Corrections Enterprises to construct three new kiosks offering loaner life jackets for public use. Additionally, each station includes a bilingual sign and a new QR code feature that links directly to our dedicated water safety webpage. This page offers important safety tips and resources in multiple languages to better serve our diverse community.
The project was made possible through shared funding by the city, Oregon Corrections Enterprises, and generous community donations.
Thank you to everyone who joined us to support this meaningful step toward safer waterways. We hope these resources help prevent future tragedies and serve as a reminder of the importance of water safety.
