Question: I want to know why the Mingus Park skate park is still fenced off. The completed portions are perfectly usable, and very awesome I should add, so why not allow in skaters? I have heard the "liability" argument before, but how is liability any different now then at some point in the future?

Answer: The difference is the unfinished part, which city officials say could create safety hazards in the finished bowls.

The city plans to cap the remaining exposed dirt with four inches of broom-finished concrete, said City Manager Chuck Freeman. That should happen any day, he said.

Until that's done, rocks and dirt from the unfinished section could trickle into the bowls and send an unsuspecting skater sprawling.

Rocks in the bowls will always be a risk, but with a nearby plot providing plenty of these objects, the city just wants to wait until it's all done.

That's also the reason why the city decided to scrap the idea of putting in landscaping next to the park. Staffers and the project coordinator agreed branches could pose a problem, too.

"It's critical to keep the park clear and free of debris," Freeman said. "This way, other skaters can stand there on a non-slick surface and watch other skaters do their thing."

Freeman said the city has set a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Friday, May 22. After consulting with its insurance company, the city's decided that it's OK for people to use roller blades and skates, though bikes and scooters are still banned.

City officials also are planning to get a video camera to monitor the park from the police department's dispatch center.