Safety tools, 'no swimming' signs to be placed at Racine beach after family of teen girl who drowned pushes for change

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Racine family is turning tragedy into change, more than a month after 15-year-old Shaylani Williams drowned at Carre-Hogle park.

Williams was swimming with friends when she went under and ultimately passed despite life-saving measures at a local hospital.

Now, it's been five weeks since her death -- yet a memorial at the beach still grows with pictures, balloons, and stuffed animals in Williams' honor.

"It shows the impact that Shaylani had on other people's lives," said her grandma, Liz Villalobos. 

Last week, she and other family members attended a Racine common council meeting to push for "no swimming" signage to be posted in the area where Williams was.

"I've been rallying friends in support to get signage out to this location," Villalobos told CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White. "The Mayor of Racine, Cory Mason, is actually agreeing and is going to put signs up for us!"

A city spokesperson said they will also be putting life ring buoys up as an additional safety tool, sending CBS 58 the statement below:

We continue to grieve with the family and friends of 15-year-old Shaylani Williams, who tragically drowned at Carre-Hogle Park earlier this summer. In response, the City of Racine is putting additional safety measures in place. By the end of this month, new bilingual ‘No Swimming’ signs and a life ring buoy will be installed at the park. While no single action can erase this tragedy, these steps are intended to raise awareness of the dangers along Lake Michigan and provide emergency tools that could help prevent future loss of life.

Our goal is to protect public safety without discouraging the community from enjoying Racine’s lakefront. The City operates two seasonally guarded beaches and encourages residents to swim at those designated locations. Visitors to Lake Michigan, in Racine and other lakeside communities, should take care to educate themselves about rip currents and other potential hazards before entering the water.

"I'll forever think of Shaylani here at this place, and to know that we were able to do something in her memory means a lot," Villalobos said.

Officials said the buoys and signs will be posted by the end of the month.