by Dennis Dalman
Even though city officials are reluctant to temporarily close four Sartell parks, the closings will be necessary because of public safety concerns related to two city projects.
One project is the CR 1 (Riverside Avenue) road reconstruction project; the other is the installation of a sewage lift station in Rotary Park, also along CR 1 to the north of the road project.
At its April 11 meeting, the Sartell City Council unanimously approved the temp-closing dates.
Watab Park and Linear Park, which are connected, will be closed to the public from April 18 to Nov. 30. The closing includes the parking area, picnic and playground facilities and splash pad.
Veterans Park (across CR 1 from Watab Park) will close from June 1 to Nov. 30. That means the annual Memorial Day ceremony, May 30, can still take place there. That park will also include improvements that will be done in conjunction with the CR 1 project.
Rotary Park will close Aug. 1 to Nov. 30 in order to install a pump station in the park’s middle. The river fishing pier located in that park will be open for use until July 31.
Large signs will be posted at the parks advising people not to enter them because of safety reasons related to installation of a gas line (Watab, Linear) and because of heavy-equipment staging areas for the CR 1 road reconstruction and the lift-station installation.
Questions about the projects and/or closings can be addressed to info@sartell.com.
