Park-Rec officials promise Decorah will have a sledding hill next winter

This hill at Will Baker Park will become an official sledding hill next winter

Decorah Parks and Recreation Department Director Andy Nimrod says a bill passed by the Iowa Legislature means "We have a sledding hill again."

The state legislature has approved a measure that would protect cities in Iowa from liability when someone gets injured sledding in a public park.  The bill has been sent to Governor Terry Branstad to be signed into law.

Iowa law protects cities if someone is injured biking or skateboarding in public parks, but up until now it did not have a similar clause protecting cities if someone is injured sledding.

The legislation approved by both the House and Senate protects cities from people who are injured participating in "recreational activities."

There is a sledding hill at Baker Park in Decorah, but because of concerns about lawsuits, City of Decorah officials posted "No Sledding" signs on the hill this past winter.