- St. George City Hall Plaza will feature new slides from the four-story parking structure.
- The $400,000 slides, funded by a RAP tax, aim to attract families.
- Completion is expected in July, enhancing downtown activities and local business engagement.
ST. GEORGE — Two new, four-story, stainless steel slides have been added to the St. George City Hall Plaza parking structure to bring a little whimsy to government functions.
David Cordero, city communications and marketing manager, said it's all in the name of fun.
"We really see the plaza as an extension of Town Square," he told KSL. "One thing to note is that Town Square has a lot of great things, but it doesn't have any playground equipment. The slides also fill a recreational need."
Town Square features a water park, grassy areas, pavilions and walking paths lined with sculptures created by many local artists. The slides are the final piece of the plaza that has been several years in the making.
"When Town Square was built in 2007 right in downtown, the idea was to provide a public venue that would attract families to downtown St. George," he said. "Now it's one of our most popular attractions. So, when we decided we wanted to build the new City Hall next to Town Square last year, we didn't want to look at the project as just a municipal building. We saw it more as a public investment that should generate the greatest possible public return."
The slides are made of stainless steel, with one measuring about 74 feet long and the other 62 feet. The cost of the slides is $400,000, and the total project cost is approximately $575,000. Many residents have cited concerns about the high cost and the potential dangers posed by the heat that a metal slide may attract.
Cordero addressed those concerns, saying the funds come from the voter-approved RAP tax dedicated specifically to recreation, arts and parks, adding that stainless steel conducts far less heat than steel did in the 1980s and 1990s.
"Of the available materials for a slide, engineers told us this was the best one available," he said. "Stainless steel conducts heat much less than the reflective chrome or aluminum slides of the 1980s and 1990s. Our slides are almost completely enclosed except for the very bottom. Part of the groundwork will be creating shade for the landing areas.
We want families downtown. That's very important to us.
–David Cordero, St. George city
"The cost is pretty much in line with what we spend when we refurbish a park and give it a new playground," he added.
The additional groundwork, Cordero explained, includes some artificial turf, bouncers for kids, shade structures, concrete and landscaping. The grand total should be right around $575,000.
He explained that the hope is to create a family-friendly place that brings locals and visitors downtown.
"Hopefully, creating a space like this will increase activity around local businesses and strengthen the connection between City Hall and the community that we serve," Cordero said.
The slides are projected to be complete in July, barring any construction delays. Cordero said there won't be a special grand opening event.
"You'll see people sliding and know that it's open," he said. "We want families downtown. That's very important to us."
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Arianne Brown
