10/03/2011 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lino Lakes Public Services Department 600 Town Center Parkway Lino Lakes, MN 55014 (651) 982 -2440 Fax (651) 982 -2439 September 28, 2011 TO: Mayor Reinert and City Council Members FROM: Rick DeGardner, Public Services Director SUBJECT: City Hall Skate Park Closure In response to questions raised during the September 26, 2011 City Council meeting, I am providing some background pertaining to the recent City Hall Skate Park closure. A Tier One Skate Park was installed at City Hall Park in the fall of 2001 (A Tier One Skate Park has all structures generally less than 3' in total height). A 60' X 80' bituminous pad was installed along with approximately $20,000 of skate park equipment. Over the past several years the City Hall Skate Park area has experienced problems including vandalism to the park building, graffiti on ramps and bituminous, vehicles illegally parked on the grass, damage to trees, and trash tossed on the ground. In 2010, a notice (Exhibit A) was placed at the skate park informing the users of problems that we've encountered and a warning that if conduct didn't improve, the skate park may be closed. In 2011, destructive behavior continued. In June, the park building sustained $4,000 in damages. On June 22, several brightly colored, laminated flyers (Exhibit B) were posted at the Skate Park stating that the skate park would be closed unless information is provided to the Lino Lakes Police Department on who committed the damage to the park building. The Park Board discussed this issue at their July, 2011 Park Board meeting and unanimously approved the motion to close the Skate Park. City staff had made numerous attempts the past several years to rectify /minimize the ongoing problems at the City Hall Skate Park facility. With no evident improvement (even after the threat of closure) we felt we had no other option than to close the skate park. The Park Board and City staff will keep the skate park concept on our radar should a more suitable situation arise.