City to consider 'spray park' at Smokey Bear Park

The spray park, she said, would include water components such as playground equipment featuring water sprays that are activated by motion. Her presentation included photos of young children running below circular pipes which sprayed water on them, as well as toddlers reaching toward a small column of water rising up from the ground.

She said the park in Grand Forks costs about $10,000 per year to maintain and draws about 10,000 visitors each year. She told the council that water is recycled and activated with motion detectors.

“This would so easily mesh with Smokey Bear Park,” she said.

Shermoen, who works as a nurse with the Koochiching County Health Department, said the park could accommodate families who cannot enjoy the beaches of Rainy Lake because of cost and transportation issues. The park, she said, would help families cool off from the summer heat while increasing their physical activity by biking or walking to the park where they would play. In addition, she said, visitors to the area exploring the community’s downtown area would have another activity in the area.

The water park could also play a role in responding to extreme heat events, similar to those experienced this summer, said Shermoen. The Minnesota Department of Health next week will host a “Hot Wash Conversation” which encourages public health agencies to plan for and develop strategies to help communities find healthy, easy ways to respond to extreme heat. The park, she said, could be used by families and elderly people as a way to beat the heat.

“The park sits and looks beautiful, but it’s not used much except for big events,” she said, noting there’s plenty of room for the spray park and the events, adding that children could use the spray park during those events.

Shermoen provided costs ranging from $50,000 to $191,000, from companies that construct the parks.

Councilors said they were interested in hearing more about the proposal and said it would be discussed further with Shermoen at a committee session scheduled for 4 p.m. Sept. 24.

In other business Monday, the council agreed to send a letter to Minnesota Department of Transportation officials asking the department to consider adding rumble strips at the centerline and shoulders of Highways 53, 11 and 71. The letter will ask MnDOT officials to meet with the council about its request.

The proposal was brought to the table by Councilor Paul Eklund, who said the recent fatal head-on crash on U.S. Highway 53 demonstrates the need for the rumble strips.

Rumble strips are intended to get the attention of drivers who cross over them, causing the tires to make loud rumbling noises. The fatal accident occurred when the driver of a vehicle crossed the center line crashing into an oncoming vehicle carrying Falls residents Riley and Natasha Burnell.

The council agreed that a letter from city Attorney Steve Shermoen will be sent to Midcontinent Communications about the closure of its walk-in office.

Shermoen said the city’s contract with the cable provider prior to Midcontinent’s ownership requires that an office in International Falls be maintained until the contract expires January 2014.

He said Midcontinent officials may not be aware of the contractual agreement and may be bound by the contract between the city with its predecessor.

“This may be a way to keep the office open until the contract expires,” he reported to the council.

Irene Anderson, of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2948 Ladies Auxiliary, asked the council to fly a POW/MIA flag, to be donated by auxiliary, on Friday, a national recognition day for prisoners of war and missing in action.