A Utah parking garage has become a family attraction after installing slides for visitors to exit its four-story building as opposed to using the stairs.
St. George City Hall completed its 3-year long construction of two towering slides from the top of its four-story municipal building earlier this September. Since opening, the slides have sky-rocketed in popularity as Utah residents have gathered their families to enjoy an unexpected activity in Washington County.
Cobain, a nine-year-old boy, was asked by KUTV how many times he rode down the slide during his recent visit to City Hall.
'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 revealed that they have tracked the slides' average use since the day they opened. Their data found the slides averaged up to 2,400 uses per day with its peak day on September 19 when it recorded a shocking 4,700 uses.
'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 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 were constructed using stainless steel materials and cost over $575,000 with funding taken from the City Recreation Art and Parks tax.
St. George City Hall has completed its almost 3-year long construction of two towering slides from the top of its four-story municipal building earlier this September
City Hall officials' data revealed the slides recorded 2,400 uses per day with its peak day on September 19 when it recorded a shocking 4,700 uses total
Since opening, the slides have skyrocketed in popularity as Utah residents have gathered their families to enjoy an unexpected activity in at the St. George City Hall parking garage
As stated on the Washington County government website, 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 attraction isn't limited to just slides as it also includes tunnels, trampolines and swinging benches that form a park area at the bottom.
Since the new construction was completed, a divide has formed between Utah residents with some raising safety concerns about the metal panels attracting heat. They have also questioned why tax money was used for the project.
Other residents have praised and supported the slides as space that can be used to bring the community together.
'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 wrote: '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!'
Councilwoman Michelle Tanner, who serves St. George, Utah, has weighed in on the City Hall slide backlash.
'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.
According to city officials, the slides were constructed using stainless steel materials and cost over $575,000 with funding taken from 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.