A Utah parking garage has become an unlikely family destination after installing slides that allow visitors to leave the four-story structure without taking the stairs.
St. George City Hall completed nearly three years of construction on two towering slides extending from the top of its four-story municipal building earlier this September. Since opening, the unusual attraction has drawn families from across Utah to Washington County for a very different kind of city visit.
KUTV asked Cobain, a nine-year-old visitor, how many times he had used the slide during a recent trip to City Hall. KUTV
‘I can’t keep track. I’ve ridden it a lot of times! When I go down, there’s a little turn, and it kind of makes your body go a little round, and it’s really fun,’ Cobain told the outlet.
City Hall officials have monitored use of the slides since they opened. Their records show the attraction has averaged as many as 2,400 rides a day. Its busiest day came on September 19, when the slides were used 4,700 times.
‘We knew that they would be popular. Maybe we didn’t quite realize how popular they would be,’ David Cordero, director of communications and marketing for the City of St. George, told the outlet.
‘We’re seeing kids of all ages, from the smaller kids that you might see at a normal playground, to older kids, teenagers, young adults, fully-fledged adults that come and see it and want to take part in it.’
According to city officials, the slides are made from stainless steel and cost more than $575,000. The project was funded through the City Recreation Art and Parks, or RAP, tax.
St. George City Hall completed nearly three years of construction on two towering slides extending from the top of its four-story municipal building earlier this September
City Hall officials said the slides averaged 2,400 uses per day, with a peak of 4,700 total uses recorded on September 19
Since opening, the slides have surged in popularity as Utah families visit the St. George City Hall parking garage for an unexpected attraction
The Washington County government website says the tax was created in 2014 to ‘help fund initiatives such as upgrading parks, improving community recreation facilities and supporting the arts.’
City officials told KUTV that the slides are only one part of the attraction. The area also features tunnels, trampolines and swinging benches, creating a small park space at the bottom of the garage.
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The project has also sparked a debate among Utah residents. Some have raised safety concerns about the metal panels becoming dangerously hot, while others have questioned whether tax revenue should have been used to finance the slides.
Supporters, however, say the slides provide a space where residents can gather and help bring more activity to downtown St. George.
‘If it’s about having fun, you should have put a community rec center there to really draw the community to that area. Nobody comes down to the city offices to have “fun” and then go to Town Square. Those of us who grew up getting burned by hot metal slides in the 60’s and 70’s can testify to that,’ one social media user wrote.
Another social media user offered a different view: ‘Having had the privilege of serving as the Deputy Director of Recreation right here for 13 years, I watched our downtown transform firsthand… Whether you plan to slide down them or not, this project is a strategic investment in keeping our downtown alive, vibrant, and economically strong!’
St. George City Councilwoman Michelle Tanner has also addressed the criticism surrounding the City Hall slides.
‘I can completely understand the shock value of seeing slides coming off a parking garage. I can sympathize with the argument that this portion of RAP tax could have been used for another park, but I also see the benefit of helping City Hall fulfill its goal of being a true community gathering place,’ she wrote in a Facebook statement.
City officials said the stainless-steel slides cost more than $575,000 and were funded through the City Recreation Art and Parks (RAP) tax
Councilwoman Michelle Tanner, who serves St. George, Utah, has weighed in on the City Hall slide backlash. She stated: ‘I also see the benefit of helping City Hall fulfill its goal of being a true community gathering place’
Tanner jokingly stated she will be sliding from the top of the parking garage to all her City Council meetings from now on.
Director Cordero told KUTV that St. George City Hall has now become a go-to destination spot, with Utah residents often supporting restaurants and shops in the downtown area after visiting.
‘It definitely was worth it in my mind, having a place in our downtown… that’s what we want to see. We want to see our downtown businesses thrive, and this certainly helps,’ Cordero told the outlet.
Despite safety concerns, the City of St. George has not reported any slide-related injuries. Officials recommend riders go down the slide one person at a time, using their feet first and making sure the landing area is clear.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Director David Cordero and Councilwoman Michelle Tanner for comment.