A team of city staff formed to review concerns at Albert Lea’s skate park is recommending against the park’s relocation.

Instead, the team has recommended upgrades at the present skate park at City Beach, which is part of the city parks system.

The suggested changes were:

• Installing additional security lights in the parking lot and skate park.

• Removing signs for park hours and only displaying signs for the skate park. The signs would state, “No trespassing. Violators will be prosecuted.”

• Actively policing the area and giving a two-week warning period before police cite violators.

• Keeping the skate park unlocked at all times due to staffing problems. If problems persist, staff recommended closing the park for a determined amount of time.

• Considering hosting a kickoff each summer to go over hours, rules and enforcement.

The staff recommendations were presented last week at the Albert Lea Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting after concerns about the skate park became a point of controversy last fall.

At that time, city officials received one petition in favor of moving the park and one against. The residents in favor said they have dealt with loud noise and profanity and that skaters are showing up outside of regular hours.

Residents against moving the park questioned whether relocating it to Frank Hall Park would be a poor mix of age groups, where there are often more serious crimes.

The residents presented their views to the Albert Lea City Council in November.

Assistant City Manager Sack Thongvanh said in a memo earlier this month that the review team, made up of administration, police and parks and recreation representatives, suggested making changes at the present site before making “a drastic change such as the relocation of the skate park.”

“We have to be cognizant of the message that will result in the relocation of the skate park and also all future requests,” Thongvanh stated.

The team reviewed emails, petitions and other documents submitted by residents on both sides, and police officer Jason Taylor completed a crime prevention through environmental design site audit.

Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams said the issue will come before the City Council at its Feb. 10 meeting where the public is invited to talk about what was recommended.

The council will likely not take any action that night.

 

If you go

What: Albert Lea City Council meeting

When: 7 p.m. Feb. 10

Where: Albert Lea City Hall