Yilan Children's Festival water play area draws criticism for peeling paint

The Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival has faced criticism shortly after its July 4th opening due to issues with its water play areas. Visitors have reported peeling paint on the slide surfaces and an abundance of suspended particles in the water, raising concerns about children's health.

One visitor, who attended the festival on its second day with family, posted online about the subpar facilities. They noted that most of the main slides were restricted to children over 130 cm tall, leaving younger children with only a small toddler pool. The most significant complaint, however, was the "severely mottled and peeling" waterproof paint on the pool floor, with paint flakes floating in the water. "The waterproof paint is floating on the water surface," one commenter noted, adding that "as more people came, more paint fell off."

In response, the Yilan County Cultural Affairs Bureau explained that the festival this year uses eco-friendly, water-based paint in line with environmental efforts. They stated that the peeling is due to a physical incompatibility between the new eco-paint and the underlying oil-based paint. The bureau emphasized that while the peeling affects the appearance, the paint is non-toxic and does not compromise safety. They also assured that the pool bottoms are cleaned nightly during water changes, and any pre-existing pits were repaired before opening, so the peeling does not create uneven surfaces or injury risks.

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The waterproof paint is floating on the water surface. As more people came, more paint fell off.