2019-12-04 P & R Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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RELEVANT LINKS: L. Sledding hills Sledding has long been a favorite winter activity among Minnesota children, young and old. There is nothing quite like the excitement of flying down a snow-covered hill! Unfortunately, accidents can and do happen on sledding hills. When an accident or injury occurs people often look for someone to blame. If the sledding hill is on city property, it is likely the injured party will look to the city. 1. Factors in building sledding areas a. Top of the hill A flat staging area at the top of the hill will allow people to get situated and ready before starting down the slope. This is a good place to post rules and to provide other amenities (warming house, concessions, etc.) since they are not in the sledding traffic pattern. b. Sledding area (hill face) A 30-degree average slope is recommended for the face of the hill. The sledding area should have a method of channeling sliders toward the bottom and away from obstacles. Fences or other barriers may be needed to restrict activities to a safe area. Straw bales work well to buffer obstacles. c. Run -out The run -out is the flat area at the bottom of the hill and should extend far enough to allow sleds to come to a safe, unobstructed stop. For a shorter run - out, a slight incline on the run -out will allow gravity to help slow the sleds. d. Restricted areas Use a corridor of straw bales or other material to keep sliders in or out of specific areas. If fencing is used, ensure that it does not create a greater hazard than would have been created by traffic in the restricted area in the first place. e. Return trip Straw bales or other materials should be used to channel sliders away from the sledding area when returning to the top of the hill. League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: 10/14/2019 Parks and Recreation Loss Control Guide Page 66