Pokémon Go players have expressed concern regarding the town's plan to limit hours and install gates at Lagasse Park. The park includes a virtual gym that players of the game regularly access, according to Town of St. Paul Mayor Maureen Miller, who spoke on the issue at the Nov. 25 regular council meeting.
Shortly after the Nov. 12 council meeting, when a decision was made to proceed with limiting hours at the park and installing gates that would be closed during evening hours, the mayor received a call from a resident who was concerned about the decision.
The decision to install signs limiting hours at the park was made following complaints being sent to the town from nearby Lakeview Terrace condo owners. Town of St. Paul council approved putting up new signs to limit the noise and unlawful activity suspected to occur at the west end of Lagasse Park.
“(This is) information for us to all know when people say there is suspicious activity going on at night,” she said.
Council had voted for a gate to be installed during the winter months (October to April) which will be open during the week Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. ‘No parking’ signs were also to be put up at the west and east end of the parking lot prohibiting parking between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
“Times that were chosen to lock the gate were the times we had for staff to lock the gate,” the mayor explained at Monday night's meeting.
“We do not get to choose where Pokémon puts their gyms,” Miller said. “There is a Pokémon gym and there are at least 50 people in the group that need access to the parking lot (longer than the set hours).”
Miller sent the matter back to the administration for other options to accommodate users of the park.
