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1 01 <br />TO <br />ITEM NUMBER <br />Mayor and City Council <br />8.2 <br />AGENDA SECTION <br />MEETING DATE <br />PREPARED BY <br />General Business <br />January 22, 2013 <br />Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation <br />Director & Chris Leeseberg, Park <br />Planner - Planner <br />ITEM DESCRIPTION <br />REVIEWED By <br />Skate Park Removal <br />Cal Portner, City Administrator <br />REVIEWED BY <br />1.) Direct, by motion, Parks and Recreation staff to remove the skate park located at Lions Park. <br />2.) Direct, by motion, staff to form a committee with the skate board users to determine <br />replacement options. <br />BACKGROUND/ DISCUSSION <br />The skate park was installed at Lion's Park in 2004. The product, constructed of treated lumber and <br />decking materials have been subjected to eight seasons of weather elements and normal wear and tear of <br />adolescent activity. <br />The expected life span of this type of product is 7 -8 years. Park Maintenance staff have creatively <br />reconfigured panels and reconstructed substructure to extend the life to its current status. <br />Skate parks are an inherently dangerous aggressive use play area in which users assume a high level of risk <br />under the best conditions. Due to the age and wear on the current structure, Park Maintenance staff has <br />severe concerns for user safety. <br />The play area is impossible to close for use. The risks and city liability involved make removal the only <br />option. <br />The Park and Recreation Commission discussed the play area at their last meeting and took testimony <br />from a number of users. The commission recommends closure, in which staff concurs. However, <br />removal is the only way in which to mitigate city liability exposure. <br />Maintenance <br />The maintenance of the skate park has been an ongoing effort since its installation. The riding surface <br />panels need constant replacing or need to be refastened to the treated wood substructure. Over time, the <br />constant refastening of the riding surface with wood screws has destroyed areas of the substructure to the <br />point that there is no longer sufficient material remaining in which to fasten. Another issue is the <br />expansion and contraction of the ride surface. This either turns out screws or often breaks them off, <br />leaving the screw shaft in the wood. <br />P O W E R E 0 B Y <br />N: \Pubfic Bodies \City Council \Council RCA \Agenda Packet \01 -22- 2013 \Skate Park.docs NATURE <br />