A Louis Riel monument nearly 40 years old is in dire need of a facelift, a Winnipeg councillor says.

The monument, which was erected in St. Vital's Riel Park in 1979, has seen better days. It is located next to a skatepark, and over the years paint has peeled away and it has lost its gold lettering.

The gold lettering on this Louis Riel memorial monument in St. Vital has worn away, and Coun. Brian Mayes wants the city to give it a makeover. (CBC) That has Coun. Brian Mayes calling for the monument of the historical Métis figure to be restored. Right now, Mayes said it has deteriorated enough that people coming through the park may not be able to recognize why it was built in the first place.

"Get it painted.... Right now all the people do is tape up notices for the skateboard park and that just doesn't seem appropriate," Mayes said.

The St. Vital ward councillor would like to see a new plaque, in both English and French, installed on the monument that would explain the history of Riel Park.

The upgrades would cost a few thousand dollars, Mayes estimates.

He hopes to have it restored in time for Louis Riel Day in February of 2016.