Politics & Government
Restrooms, Public Safety a Stinky Issue for Lake Elmo Park Reserve
Washington County is studying a slate of solutions to issues popping up at the popular park, including overflowing restrooms and a high rate of safety incidents.
Pack into Lake Elmo Park Reserve on a popular summer weekend and you know the No. 1 issue: the restrooms.
Washington County staff and commissioners both commented on the lack of space and sanitary conditions at the restrooms in the park, according to a report compiled by the Minneapolis Star Tribune this week.
The county is looking at what it can do to upgrade those facilities, or provide alternatives. But that's not the only issue.
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According to the county, more than 450 incidents were reported to the county sheriff's department last year from the park. That's more than triple the number reported at any other park in Washington County.
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As a result, the sheriff's department wants to hire a full-time deputy and two part-time deputies to patrol the county's parks, with a keen eye on Lake Elmo Park Reserve, the Star Tribune story states.
The reports were part of a study presented to the county commission by SRF Consulting Group, which was acquired to take a look at all county parks. The study cost $65,000, according to county records.
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