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<br />What are the options for a municipal government? <br /> <br />Local governments have several options regarding skate parks including: <br /> <br />1. The city builds the skate park and operates it as part of its parks and recreation department. A <br />prime example of a city owned and operated skate P,9Ik facility is the John Rose Minnesota Oval <br />in Roseville. Each person admitted into the park must sign and review liability waivers, which <br />are then kept on file. Skaters are required to wear a helmet, wrist guards, kneepads, and elbow <br />pads. All employees are trained to enforce rules of the park, and additionally, are trained in <br />procedures for preventing the spread of infectious diseases transmitted by blood and other <br />potentially infectious materials. It offsets its expenses by charging admission to users. <br /> <br />2. The city owns the skate park and an association operates it. <br /> <br />3. The city owns the skate park and an association leases the property and operates it. <br /> <br />4. A nonprofit association owns and operates the skate park in private land. <br /> <br />'. <br />For the last three options, skaters organize into a nonprofit association to build and maintain a skate <br />park. By leasing (or selling) land to the group to construct and run a facility, the city would be able <br />to transfer liability risks to the association. The contract between the city and the association should <br />contain proper hold hannlesslindemnification language and requirements for the group to have <br />sufficient insurance. <br /> <br />An example of this approach is found in the relationship between Mankato and the Mankato Area <br />Skateboard Association (MASA). After two and a half years of setbacks, in 1993 this nonprofit <br />association was able to convince the city of Mankato to donate land for a "roller sport" facility. <br />They needed to raise $127,000 to build the in-door facility, which is now known as the <br />"Woodworks. <br /> <br />These options are difficult to implement because it takes some time for skaters to organize. And <br />since the majority of skaters are between 14-18 years of age, there is a short time of involvement <br />and it is difficult to assure continuity. However, there are great benefits of working with a nonprofit <br />association. Skaters have an investment in seeing the facility succeed, and because skaters are <br />intimately involved in the creation of the facility, the park will offer equipment able to keep their <br />interest. <br /> <br />LMCIT coverage for Skate Parks <br /> <br />When planning a skate park, please involve your city's LMCIT Loss Control Representative, 612- <br />766-3172. If you have any questions about LMCIT coverage of skate parks, please contact your <br />city's underwriter at 651-281-1200, or 800-925-1122. <br /> <br />LMCIT offers member cities liability coverage for skateboard! in-line skating parks. After <br />conducting an in-depth analysis of skate parks, LMCIT devised a two-tiered approach for covering <br />these facilities. <br /> <br />Parks & Ree 2001 <br /> <br />-117- <br />