Kentucky mother launches “More About Standards” nonprofit nearly nine years after son drowned at splash pad

Nearly nine years after her 6-year-old son drowned at a splash pad, Alexandria Stewart has launched a new Kentucky nonprofit, “More About Standards,” with the goal of expanding public awareness and improving water-safety practices at public splash and play areas, according to a report by LEX18 published on Aug. 13, 2026.

Stewart’s account centers on the long-term impact the death has had on her family and the community, and the organization’s mission is framed around turning that grief into sustained public education and advocacy for higher safety expectations. In the LEX18 report, Stewart described the nonprofit as a way to keep attention on safety standards long after the initial tragedy, rather than allowing the issue to fade from view.

The LEX18 story ties the nonprofit’s creation to the time elapsed since the drowning, underscoring that the decision to organize came after years of reflection and continued engagement with the topic of water-play safety. Stewart’s stated aim, as described by LEX18, is to help families better understand what responsible operations and oversight should look like at splash pads and similar facilities.

The report says the nonprofit is intended to build a network of supporters and raise awareness through outreach. While the story does not lay out detailed program timelines or specific legislative or regulatory targets, it describes “More About Standards” as an effort to focus on standards and expectations that families, facility operators, and the public can recognize and demand.

Stewart’s initiative also reflects a broader pattern of families seeking action after preventable tragedies, but the LEX18 report emphasizes her personal role in creating a formal organization rather than remaining focused solely on individual remembrance. By creating “More About Standards,” Stewart is positioning the work as ongoing and community-facing, with the intention of reaching more families who may rely on splash pads for recreation.

The LEX18 report does not provide a list of immediate events, funding goals, or partnerships as part of its Aug. 13 coverage. It also does not name the splash pad involved in the 2017 drowning or specify whether any criminal or civil case outcomes are part of the nonprofit’s formation, at least within the account described in the story.

For Kentucky residents, the practical effect of the nonprofit’s launch is likely to be increased public attention to safety conditions at water-play venues, including the ways families evaluate facilities and the kinds of information they seek before children use them. Stewart’s emphasis on “standards” also suggests the nonprofit intends to focus on clarity and consistency in what safety measures are expected and communicated, beyond a one-time response after an incident.

As the organization develops, the next steps will depend on what programs Stewart’s group plans to run and whether it seeks to engage public agencies, facility operators, or school or park districts. Because the LEX18 report is the primary source for the nonprofit’s launch details, additional documentation such as its incorporation filings, program statements, and public-facing materials may be important for residents to understand the scope of what “More About Standards” will do next.

sourceNote: true