Jacksonville Beach's Adventure Landing has been hit with a hefty $151,606 fine for child labor violations, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. A recent investigation by the Wage and Hour Division revealed that the water park employed 14-year-olds and 15-year-olds beyond the hours permitted by federal law. It was also found that these young workers were operating as attendants on elevated water slides without the required certification, as reported by News4JAX.
Adventure Landing, which nearly faced closure over a year ago, before the Jacksonville Beach City Council voted to keep the site for the water park rather than turning it into apartments, is a favorite local spot that will mark its 30th anniversary next year. Amid this backdrop, child labor laws dictate that 14 and 15-year-old employees cannot work past 7 p.m. during the week or past 9 p.m. on Fridays between Labor Day and May 31, according to First Coast News. The investigation found that Adventure Landing had teenagers working during these prohibited hours.
Local residents expressed dismay upon hearing about the company's labor violations. Sandra Deangelis told Action News Jax, "It’s very very good, and it’s fun for all the children to be here, but when they find out they’re doing things that they should not be doing, it’s just sad." A former employee, Aixianet Pagan, recalled her time at the park, stating, "When I was there, you had to be certified to work certain parts of the park," indicating that past policies seemed more stringent.
In response to the findings, Adventure Landing has agreed to a series of steps designed to strengthen their adherence to labor regulations. They've committed to reviewing and enhancing training on child labor regulations, ensuring that managers report any known violations, and providing reports on compliance steps to the Department of Labor, as outlined by News4JAX. This isn't the first time the company has been in hot water for such issues; in 2018, they faced a fine at their Pineville, North Carolina, location for similar infractions.
Adventure Landing has issued a statement in light of recent events, indicating a commitment to youth and improving their program. "We have taken prompt measures to make our compliance program even more robust and any opportunities for improvement have been addressed and resolved," Adventure Landing said, as reported by News4JAX.
