This petition does not oppose the installation of a skatepark near Bde Maka Ska, but instead urges the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board to find another location for the park that would not reduce the unique access to the lake that the North Parking Lot (and South Parking Lot) currently provides.  

The City of Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board has approved the installation of a pop-up skateboard park for this summer (2022), and potentially a permanent cement park which will eliminate 46% (~36 parking spaces) of the Bde Maka Ska Lake North Parking Lot.

This is a recent news article and this is the plan on the City of Skate's website

The planned pop-up and future development would significantly impact access to the lake, particularly during busy summer months, as parking for the park is already stressed. 

This impact includes a wide variety of community members who depend on their ability to park to be able to access the lake and amenities such as walking/biking trails, beaches, picnic areas, playgrounds, etc. including those with children, friends/family with limited mobility, and so on. Additionally, parking is needed for the northern launch of the lake for windsurfers, kiters, kayakers, paddle boarders, sailors, and a variety of other watercraft that require vehicles to transport gear and then park.  

The following are additional points of discussion: 

• The pop-up park, as currently planned for the North Parking Lot, would remove ~36 parking spaces (30 spaces in the blocked off part of the lot and ~6 more lost to re-create the needed vehicle turnaround at the end of the lot) from the total 78 spaces which play a key role in ensuring access to the lake and its amenities (trails, beaches, playground, picnic area, etc.). 
  Thirty-six parking spaces potentially represent 144 people if 4 people per vehicle, along with constant parking spot turnover. A small pop-up skateboard park would serve a smaller number of individuals and increase demand on the lot. 
• Skateboarders do not require lake access – a skate park can exist in a variety of other locations around the lake (e.g. on the western side of the lake) that does not impede parking needed to support lake access. 
• Individuals who pay for Park & Recreation sailboat boat mooring balls or rack rentals to store canoes, kayaks, etc. also need parking in this North Lot to access their watercraft and transport gear.  
• Bde Maka Ska is the only lake in the Twin Cities Metro with safe launches on both the north and south sides which are used for wind sports depending on wind direction and the need to be blown back onshore should an issue arise. When the wind blows from the south, which it does a lot in the summer months, the North Lot is packed as it is the safest launching point.  
• Having more windsurfers, kayakers, and other small craft on the lake increases safety. Those of us on the water routinely make water rescues for individuals renting canoes and falling in, using inflatables and needing help reaching the shore, etc.   
• Has consideration been given to Park revenue loss from the removal of ~36 prime parking spaces?