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Parks commission weighs new signage, outreach and enforcement after reports of fishing and vaping at Dorothy Park
Summary
North St. Paul City parks commissioners discussed adding clearer signs, temporary yard-stake 'no fishing' markers, and outreach after residents reported fishing from the Dorothy Park shoreline, vaping and cannabis use, dogs off leash and litter; staff will coordinate with the police and DNR and try short-term signs and education first.
The North St. Paul City Parks Commission discussed signage and enforcement measures for Dorothy Park after staff shared a resident complaint about fishing from the shoreline, vaping and cannabis use, dogs off leash and litter.
"In the packet, there is an email with some concerns, mostly surrounding Dorothy Park," said Sarah Zaratka, a parks staff member. "I have been working ... with the police department to increase patrol there," she added, describing recent increased enforcement patrols.
Commission member Laura Greenley Karp described Dorothy Park as "this very quiet toddler park," and said she was surprised to learn people had been fishing along the tiny shoreline. Commissioners said fishing so close to where children swim or play presents a safety and nuisance concern.
The group discussed short-term measures to make expectations clearer to park users. Ideas included placing small yard-stake "no fishing here" signs near the shore, multilingual signs that explicitly ban smoking, vaping and marijuana use, and low-profile shoreline boundary markers (flags or other noninvasive markers) to delineate public park shorelines from private docks. Commissioners emphasized education targeted at nearby residents and young anglers so that families are not penalized for unaware conduct.
Staff noted limitations on local enforcement. Sarah Zaratka said the city already bans fishing in marked beach swimming areas but "for other shorelines, it doesn't specifically call that out" in the ordinance; she added that once someone steps into the water and is standing in it, DNR jurisdiction may apply and the city loses enforcement authority. The commission also flagged private-property encroachment while fishing as a 911/enforcement matter and encouraged residents to report trespass incidents to police.
Members traded practical options: temporary, visible signs closer to the water (rather than only at paths), small movable markers to clarify shore boundaries, and an informational outreach piece or social-media post listing where fishing is permitted on Silver Lake. Commissioners also recommended adding an extra trash can near Dorothy to address litter and asked staff to explore additional leash-signage placement and language accessibility for signs.
No ordinance change was approved at the meeting; commissioners agreed to try short-term signage and education first and to coordinate follow-up with the police department and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Sarah Zaratka said she will research examples used in other communities, speak with police about guidance the department is developing, and report back at a future meeting.
What happens next: Staff will pursue temporary signs and outreach, coordinate with the police and DNR about jurisdictional questions, and return with recommended language and placement options at a future meeting.
