There's a note about seal coating the trails in Three Rivers Parks
including Elm Creek and Hyland Lake Parke Reserve posted at
skinnyski.com.

IMO, this is a disaster for rollerskiers. Seal coated surfaces are the pits
for rollerskiing.

I'd hope that a few "Park Patrons" out there who rollerski at these
parks would give some feedback to the Park District.



Anyone know of a real person email address for these folks?

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A few comments:

By seal-coating, you are making the trails useless to rollerskiers.
The painted surface makes it impossible to rollerski because
the pole tips slide on the slick paint rather than grabbing
onto the surface.

Some of these trails are used by rollerskiers as much as any other
type of user. Rollerskiers and cross country skiers are dedicated
users who return year after year and support the park district in
many ways.

Rollerskiers and cross country skiers pay for the Patron's Pass.
Rollerskiers and cross country skiers work to organize events at
the parks and generate more interest in the trail systems.

In addition, every piece of expert advice I have seen on the subject suggests
that seal coating does nothing for long term durability of asphalt.
In fact, it increases maintenance by requiring that the seal coat be refreshed
every few years to avoid a drab, uneven look. Look around at the
driveways in your neighborhood: the ones that have never been seal coated
look the best. Seal coating "durability" is a marketing ploy.

Seal coating damages plant and animal life near the trail: the darker color
absorbs more sunlight and the heat is literally deadly to
anything growing or living next to the asphalt.

Please reconsider the decision to seal coat the trails.

- Bob Larson
Rosemount
Park Patron


Coating Scheduled for Several Park Trails
Posted 7/22/03
Three Rivers Park District will be seal coating paved trails at several parks during the next
three weeks. Trail users can expect delays and trail closures during this project. Please beware
of barricades.

Trails are scheduled for seal coating at Elm Creek Park Reserve (north loop), North
Mississippi Regional Park, Carver Park Reserve (trail to Lowry Nature Center), Hyland Lake
Park Reserve and Lake Minnetonka Regional Park.