2/02/2007

Theodore Wirth Park has a limited amount of building space and money.  The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) selected snowboarding and cross-country skiing as niche markets to keep costs down and enable the park to handle a low amount of inventory and staff.  We are not and we don't intend to be the Three Rivers Park system and we will never be Hyland Hills.

The MPRB has purchased 45 units of Burton rental equipment (LTR Learn-To-Ride) and hired 8 instructors to take care of rental, lessons, park design and tow rope duties.  Our third season is showing growth so we have added so new items to our park because of this growth.    

The snowboard only policy came into effect due to the lack of the money and space available to operate both the ski and snowboard markets simultaneously. If we allowed skiing, we would have to offer all of the same services to the general public.  The amount of money and staff needed to do this (and do it right) would inhibit the markets we are currently focusing on.  If we allowed skiing in our park, it would not be fair to not teach others how to ski or to ski park terrain.  We also don’t have the space or money to facilitate a downhill ski & ski rental program.