First, thanks to Park Commissioners John Erwin and Annie Young for pledging to look into this issue.
For proof that the weather is perfectly suitable for outdoor skating, see this link:http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5191170.html The temp on Sunday at 3 p.m. when the Isles rink was closed for cold weather: 5 degrees. The temp on Monday at 3 p.m. when the Isles rink was open: 2 degrees. Go figure. The wind on Sunday was light and variable. According to wind chill charts, at 5 degrees the wind would have had to reach more than 30 miles per hour to reach the Park Board's stated -20 degree wind chill threshold for closing. Clearly it was nowhere near that. It seems to me that people are not going to skate in subzero weather unless they dress for the occasion. No one is forcing people to skate in this weather. But if people are showing up to skate, the Park Board ought to make it more comfortable for them during the coldest part: Putting skates on and taking them off. Moreover, a person ought not to have to guess whether the warming houses are open. If the Park Board web site could post the cancellation of the Lake Harriet Kite Festival, it certainly could have alerted us to the closing of warming houses on Sunday. It was beautiful to skate at Isles last night. The air was crisp, the interplay of light and shadow, the stars in the night sky. Steve Brandt Kingfield P.S. Can anyone out there teach me how to sharpen speedskates? REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
