2002-06-05 P & R Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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" ~ What are the options for a IDwlicipal government? Local governments have several options regarding skate parks including: 1. The city builds the skate park and operates it as part of its parks and recreation department. A . prime example ofa city owned and operated skate park facility is the John Rose Minnesota Oval in Roseville. Each person admitted into the park must sign and review liability waivers, which are then kept on file. Skaters are required to wear a helmet, wrist guards, kneepads, and elbow pads. All employees are trained to enforce rules of the park, and additionally, are trained in procedures for preventing the spread of infectious diseases 1ransmitted by blood and other potentially infectious materials. It offsets its expenses by charging admission to users. 2. The city owns the skate park and an association operates it. 3. The city owns the skate park and an association leases the property and operates it. 4. A nonprofit association owns and operates the skate park in private land. ~ For the last three options, skaters organize into a nonprofit association to build and maintain a skate park. By leasing (or selling) land to the 8fOUp to construct and nm a facility, the city would be able to transfer liability risks to the association. The contract between the city and the association should contain proper hold harmless/indem.nification language and requirements for the group to have sufficient in&urance. An example of this approach is found in the relationship between Man1o,.tl> and the Man1cato Area Skateboard Association (MASA). After two and a half years of setbacks, in 1993 this nonprofit association was able to convince the city ofMan1c~o to donate land for a "roller sport" facility. They needed to raise $127,000 to build the in-door facility, which is now known as the "Woodworks. These options are difficult to implement because it takes some time for skaters to organize. And since the majority of skaters are between 14-18 years of age, there is a short time of involvement and it is difficult to assure continuity. However, there are great benefits of working with a nonprofit association. Skaters have an investment in seeing the facility succeed, and because skaters are intimately involved in the creation of the facility, the park will offer equipment able to keep their interest. LMCIT coverage for Skate Parks When planning a skate park, please involve your city's LMCIT Loss Control Representative, 612- 766-3172. If you have any questions about LMCIT coverage of skate parks, please contact your city's underwriter at 651-281-1200, or 800-925-1122. LMCIT offers member cities liability coverage for skateboard! in-line skating parks. After conducting an in-depth analysis of skate parks, LMCIT devised a two-tiered approach for covering these facilities.