Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo wants to make sure improvements planned for Riverdale Park place an emphasis on safety.

Germantown Police are investigating after a man died after being in a ditch at Riverdale Park during heavy rains Tuesday, Aug. 9. A child fell in, and the child’s father and Will Drennan jumped in to help save him. While the child and father survived with minor injuries, Drennan could not be initially located. He was transported to a hospital, but died.

“As a father himself, Will’s actions and efforts were instinctively courageous and nothing short of heroic,” Palazzolo said in a release.

Calkins: Will Drennan died a hero. His friends want everyone to know.

Currently, the ditch running through Riverdale Park is not enclosed. The mayor noted the city experienced heavy rains in a short duration of time. Since the park opened nearly 45 years ago, the park has had the open channel drainage system. It runs underneath Neshoba Road and flows north into the Wolf River.

A reinvestment of Riverdale Park is included in the budget aldermen approved in June, and proposed improvements are drafted. Residents have given input on proposals. However, changes could come.

Palazzolo said a thorough review of park safety will be completed before aldermen review the project. He also directed designs be submitted for an underground stormwater system at the park.