I received this in an email this morning….
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If this plan goes through as they say it will it may lead to them having a monopoly on most of the access into pool 2. This would probably mean that they will charge and close around 10 pm.
Near as I can tell, anyone that uses this area of Pool 2 should be concerned.
Always make me shiver when the city government enlists the help of “hundreds of activists and dozens of consulting companies.” I think that Lillydale is already well managed, the lovebirds seem to keep the car thieves away. 
who exactly is going to pay for this? 
Not sure of what to be concerned about. St paul all ready has gates on there landings. Charging to use them is coming. I cant believe its been free this long. Just like mpls charging to park at the city parks st paul will go the same way. They do this to keep the poor from using these places.
The 494 landing and Lions Levee are not in st paul. With the high water we have had this year they have been tough to use anyways.
Might not be a bad thing. Green Bay area charges $5 to launch or $30 for a year long pass. They have some of the best landings I’ve ever used.
My understaanding is that the 494 ramp is a publicly owned (MN DNR) launch property, but that they have a contract with the City of So. St. Paul for regular maintenance, like installing/pulling the dock, closing the site when flooded, guarding it with their park cops, etc. That’s why we have to call SSP in the Spring to get them to open it.
Ultimately, it is still a public ramp though, so no fees should be charged. ….We already paid for it.
If the big city up the river wants to make fancy improvements like they say – and charge all kinds of fees – you’ll just have to get to the 494 access a bit earlier in the AM to get a parking spot, because the regulars up there will move down.
In the metro, there really is no such thing as a free park anymore anyhow – is there? 
I didn’t see anything that made me think the boat landings will be threatened, but I share the overarching concern about paying for it. That said, it’s a 20 year plan and that’s a lot of time to figure the various pieces out.. In the end I think a well done revitalization plan would be pretty cool. The river and St. Paul in general have so much unrealized potential.
I did have to laugh at some of the comments in the article. Apparently they’re going to make the area both more “natural” and more “urban”? And the lady who wants more wild, natural space (“we shouldn’t have to drive to the suburbs for that”) but also wants more people around for safety? Ummm, how does that go again? 
I also failed to see the connection of the plan to a landing monopoly. 
I agree with John23, this could be a pretty cool area with a little elbow grease. I’ve used Lillydale in the past and never really feel safe there. Seems like a lot of wasted space. I’m not for commercialization of the space, but better maintained more functional outdoor recreational space with a handful of well placed amenities would make it nice.
ET 
Does anyone know what the big pile of dirt is that was moved in about a 1/4 mile up river from lillydale ramp? Think they where working on that early this spring. Maybe its part of this plan.
I didnt know we needed it but cant stop progress.
I’m especially confused by the following statement THEY made. “more natural, more urban”
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who exactly is going to pay for this?
You are, whether you like it or not. Representative government at it’s best. Adult children playing with money they don’t have. 
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I’ve used Lillydale in the past and never really feel safe there.
ET
Keep the cab of your truck empty. Beyond that, speak softly and carry a big stick. 
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Charging to use them is coming. I can’t believe its been free this long.
You have been paying. City, state and local taxes pay for these amenities now. But, yes a “User Fee” for just about anything beyond basic services are headed our way. That is up to who you elect to put in office!
-J.
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