Albert Lea’s skate park will continue at City Beach — at least for now.

The Albert Lea City Council voted 6-1 Monday to leave the park at its present location and to move forward with a series of recommendations given by a team of city staff.

Some of the changes include:

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

• Removing park hour signs and displaying only the skate park hour signs.

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

• Closing the park for a determined amount of time if problems persist.

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

The park came under review last fall after people living nearby raised concerns about the noise and profanity coming from some of the skaters using the park. The skaters were also showing up

outside of posted hours.

City staff considered whether moving the skate park would resolve the concerns. They reviewed emails, petitions, comments and documents submitted by residents on both sides, and a police officer completed a crime-prevention-through-environmental-design audit.

Fourth Ward Councilor Reid Olson, who was the only dissenting vote, said he thought the staff review did not address some of the concerns of the neighbors, and said he did not feel like the council was given enough options with the recommendations.

Third Ward Councilor George Marin asked staff to review options for sound barriers at the park.

“There’s not going to be a winner today,” said Albert Lea Mayor Vern Rasmussen, who described the decision as an “emotional” one for many.

He reassured the public that city staff will continue to monitor the skate park.

“As a city we need to give ourselves a chance to enforce these rules,” Rasmussen said.