ST. PAUL - Safety concerns around the new skate park in St. Paul were brought forward to council on Oct. 13, with council opting for a temporary solution as work is done to find a more aesthetic way to deal with skateboards rolling into the adjacent street.
CAO Kim Heyman presented council with an option to purchase snowfence for $400 to $500, as a temporary way to deal with the issue. She also presented council with a quote of $3,900 to $4,370 for chainlink fence as a more permanent solution.
Administration recommended council approve the chainlink fence, but a discussion resulted in council approving the temporary solution so that more research can be done on a more aesthetically pleasing alternative.
Coun. Nathan Taylor said that while he sees the need for a barrier of some sort between the skatepark and 53rd Avenue, he did not support the chainlink fence. Considering how much time and money has been put into beautifying the space and creating the park, Taylor felt a better solution was required. He encouraged council to take time to find a more "pleasing" solution, even if the financial cost was higher.
Coun. Ron Boisvert, who originally made the motion to move ahead with the chainlink fence but later allowed a friendly ammendment to that motion, stated that if the town purchased the snowfence, it could easily be reused elsewhere when it was no longer needed at the location. He added that now that the town is aware there is a safety issue, something should be done to solve it.
The idea to get Champions for Change invovled in the project was also brought up. The grassroots organization has been part of a number of public art projects throughout the Town of St. Paul, and often focuses on downtown beautification.
A motion to proceed with a temporary snowfence, and look into something more appealing to deal with the safety concern was carried.
