8.2. SR 01-22-20131 01
TO
ITEM NUMBER
Mayor and City Council
8.2
AGENDA SECTION
MEETING DATE
PREPARED BY
General Business
January 22, 2013
Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation
Director & Chris Leeseberg, Park
Planner - Planner
ITEM DESCRIPTION
REVIEWED By
Skate Park Removal
Cal Portner, City Administrator
REVIEWED BY
1.) Direct, by motion, Parks and Recreation staff to remove the skate park located at Lions Park.
2.) Direct, by motion, staff to form a committee with the skate board users to determine
replacement options.
BACKGROUND/ DISCUSSION
The skate park was installed at Lion's Park in 2004. The product, constructed of treated lumber and
decking materials have been subjected to eight seasons of weather elements and normal wear and tear of
adolescent activity.
The expected life span of this type of product is 7 -8 years. Park Maintenance staff have creatively
reconfigured panels and reconstructed substructure to extend the life to its current status.
Skate parks are an inherently dangerous aggressive use play area in which users assume a high level of risk
under the best conditions. Due to the age and wear on the current structure, Park Maintenance staff has
severe concerns for user safety.
The play area is impossible to close for use. The risks and city liability involved make removal the only
option.
The Park and Recreation Commission discussed the play area at their last meeting and took testimony
from a number of users. The commission recommends closure, in which staff concurs. However,
removal is the only way in which to mitigate city liability exposure.
Maintenance
The maintenance of the skate park has been an ongoing effort since its installation. The riding surface
panels need constant replacing or need to be refastened to the treated wood substructure. Over time, the
constant refastening of the riding surface with wood screws has destroyed areas of the substructure to the
point that there is no longer sufficient material remaining in which to fasten. Another issue is the
expansion and contraction of the ride surface. This either turns out screws or often breaks them off,
leaving the screw shaft in the wood.
P O W E R E 0 B Y
N: \Pubfic Bodies \City Council \Council RCA \Agenda Packet \01 -22- 2013 \Skate Park.docs NATURE
As a result of the poor wood quality and surface movement, screws constantly work their way above the
riding surface resulting in tripping and laceration hazards.
The metal transition panels at the bottom of the ramps often are curling and need to be bent back to
provide a safe transition. In some cases they had to be fastened to the concrete which is not
recommended as it does not allow for expansion and contraction of the materials, creating other
problems.
Repair Costs
The riding surface panels cost $200 -300 per sheet. Staff maximizes the use of each sheet, resulting in the
use of smaller pieces and many seams which is not an ideal riding surface. We use about four sheets each
year to replace broken /vandalized sections.
Ongoing inspections indicate substantial amounts of the substructure would have to be rebuilt to salvage
a few more years of use out of the skate park.
Staff will present what the repair /replacement costs would be to bring the skate park into safer
conditions.
The original installation company completed warranty repairs 4 -5 years ago.
Parks and Recreation Commission
Staff presented the skate park conditions to the commission and recommended removal. Several
skateboarders spoke to the commission requesting that if it is removed, that it be replaced quickly
because for most of them, it is a home away from home and place to relieve stress. Several mentioned
that the "problems" at the skate park are not from skateboarders but other people. A few of the youth
mentioned the idea to move the skate park to a new location.
The commission directed staff to close the skate park and investigate if the structure is repairable,
avoiding the immediate removal of the ramps. They also asked staff to form a committee with the users
to explore current and future solutions. At the time of drafting this memo, staff has received contacts
from two individuals interested in be on the committee.
Park Improvement Fund
The skate park condition replacement was first with the City Council at the June 2012 work session on
park capital projects. The skate park was recommended as a low priority when compared to the overall
extensive list of improvements needed for trails and playgrounds.
The Park Improvement Fund list of recommended projects was discussed with the Park and Recreation
Commission at a special work session on October 3, 2012. The Commission and staff priorities for 2013
were current trails and playgrounds that need to be replaced and /or repaired with a current cost estimate
of $300,000. This list of priorities was presented to City Council at a work session on October 8, 2012.
Discussion took place on increasing the transfer from the municipal liquor store to the Park
Improvement Fund in order to begin addressing park maintenance project needs. City Council members
requested that the funding level of $300,000 recommended by staff be decreased since the annual level
for 2012 was at $100,000. Consensus from City Council was for staff to re- evaluate and prioritize the
projects with funding less than $300,000.
N: \Public Bodies \City Council \Council RCA \Agenda Packet \01 -22- 2013 \Skate Park.dou
A new list of priorities for the Park Improvement Fund was presented to the Park and Recreation
Commission at a regular meeting on October 10. The main concern and consensus with both staff and
the commission was for continued improvements to the trails and aging playgrounds. The skate park
was discussed but not made a priority because of other immediate needs. The priority list of projects for
2013 and 2014 is listed on the attached Park Improvement Fund spreadsheet. This was recommended by
staff and approved by City Council. The skate park is listed on the spreadsheet as a $250,000 project
anticipated being on future updates.
Conclusion
Staff recommends removal of the existing skate park due to potential liability issues and to form a skate
park committee to review possible locations, design and associated costs. The recommendations of this
committee will be presented to the commission and City Council this summer, including the placement
of changing project priorities in the Park Improvement Fund. It is recommended that the committee
include the park planner, at least one commission member, and members of the community.
® Park Improvement Fund (2013 -2017)
N: \Public Bodies \City Council \Council RCA \Agenda Packet \01 -22- 2013 \Skate Park.docx
01..: .
Expenditures
Playground Safety
Actual
10,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
Trail Repairs & Connections
2011
2012B
2013F
2014F
2015E
2016F
2017F
Revenues
9,300
26,900
Other Revenue
2,811
Interest Income
1,511
3,105
4,585
7
7
67
129
Grants
16,625
-
-
-
-
-
-
Misc. (Hillside/Woodlands)
15,179
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
Transfer In- Liquor Fund
95,592
108,510
250,000
250,000
250,000
250,000
250,000
Donations
1,005
69,691
-
-
-
-
-
Total Revenue
129,912
191,306
264,585
260,007
260,007
260,067
260,129
Expenditures
Playground Safety
23,316
10,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
Trail Repairs & Connections
18,803
30,000
72,000
2 100,000
2 100,000
100,000
100,000
Court Resurfacing
9,300
26,900
Rivers Edge Fountain
2,811
Hydrant Hookups
-
3,500
Orono Boat Loanding
1,500
Trott Brook Basket ball court
61,341
Orono Park Playground
250,000
3
30,000
Downtown Parking Lot Landscape
45,000
Bailey Point - amenities
40,000
4
Orono Boat Landing Dock
5,200
5
Dog Park irrigation and trees
10,000
7
Oak Knoll Well project
3,000
6
Park Property Lines
2,000
8 2,000
6 3,000
3,000
3,000
Parks Master Plan Update **
30,000
1 35,000
1
Smart Irrigation System
14,000
8
YAC Complex well
39,000
4
Deerfield playground replacement
65,000
3
YAC Football Field Lights
-
75,000
Flush toilets
25,000
25,000
25,000
Althletic field amenities
50,000
50,000
50,000
Baldwin Park replacement
Splash Pad @ Orono
75,000
Lions Park Playground replacement
14,047
Re -Lamp Orono Softball Fields
471
Well replacement for YAC
3,907
Athletic field maintenance
1,055
Great Northern Trail
-
Woodland trails house removal
6,462
Shelter /shed repairs
7,387
Oak Knoll irrigation repair
1,126
8,727
Total Expenditures
88,685
141,968
417,200
260,000
258,000
258,000
258,000
Revenues less Expenditures
41,227
49,338
(152,615)
7
2,007
2,067
2,129
Cash Balance - Begrhn(fng
62,2,80
103,507
152,044
230
_' 237
_ ; 2,244
4,311
Cash Balance - Ejidlni
103,5417
152,844
230
237
2,244
4,341
6,440
** = anticipated to do an RFP for both Comp Plan and Park Plan, costs may be
reduced.
Yearly Transfer is made in June after City audit from Liquor Profits
The following projects are anticipate to be on future Park Improvement Plan
updates
YAC Lights
$ 500,000
Skate Park Replacement
250,000
Pavement for YAC complex
150,000
Pavement for YAC football
100,000
Orono Parking Lot
500,000
Interpretive /Ski chalet
500,000
Hockey Rink Trott Brook
200,000
Hockey Rink at Lions Park
200,000
Upgrading Lighting at Orono Complex
100,000
Softball Field at Trott brook Park
40,000
updated 12/12/12