Parks staff report: pickleball lights, expanded summer camps and school IGA amendment headed to City Council

Lake Havasu City Parks and Recreation staff reported updates on facility work, programming and a pending intergovernmental agreement amendment at the Feb. 24 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting.

Director Rivera told the board that "all 8 of the light poles are up at the pickleball courts at Samp Memorial Park," and that staff are running wiring so the lights "should be operational early next week." The director also outlined recreation programs, swim lessons, certifications and an amendment to the city—9s intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the school district to increase available field space for youth sports; the school board has already approved the amendment and it will be on the City Council agenda in the first March meeting.

Why it matters: the updates affect program capacity and daily use of city parks and facilities. Expanded field access and a third summer-camp site would increase youth opportunities and alter how the city schedules community athletics and school-based facility use.

Director Rivera gave a rundown of recent and upcoming recreation activity. Specialty cooking classes led by staff drew about 15—to 20 participants per session; youth basketball leagues started Feb. 14 with roughly "40 some odd" third- and fourth-grade registrants and about "70 some odd" fifth- and sixth-grade registrants; and after-school sites are rotating specialized art activities across six elementary campuses. Rivera said kinder-swim lessons will run in March and that five staff members will obtain boating- and kayaking-safety certification through Arizona Game and Fish.

Rivera described several new and returning programs: a babysitting class at the aquatic center on March 1 (registration open; four participants registered at the time of the report), a two-day "Come Fly With Us" aviation introduction (build-a-plane at the aquatic center March 18, airport tour and flying March 19) for ages 7—to 10, and a new drop-in "baby and me" yoga class beginning in March. Rivera said the babysitting course is geared to ages 12—to 17 and that CPR/first-aid instruction is part of the Red Cross-structured program.

On summer camps, Rivera said the department is confirming three school sites for 2025 after having only two sites last year. "Last year, we had, I believe, 355 participants registered. So I'm hoping we can see another additional 100 to a 120 kids depending on the site," Rivera said. She added that final capacity will depend on site assignments and staffing.

Rivera also reviewed facility events and rentals scheduled for March and noted lifeguard recruitment will open in March. The director told the board the city closed voting for the Catalyst Project naming contest with roughly 860 votes and about 400 name submissions.

Board business: the advisory board approved the meeting minutes from Jan. 27, 2025. A motion to approve was made by Mercedes Geyser and seconded by Alex Ross; the motion carried on a voice vote with no roll-call tally recorded.

Items for follow-up: Rivera distributed Amendment No. 2 to the IGA with the school district about facility usage, saying the district has approved it and the city council will consider the amendment at its first March meeting. No formal action on the IGA was taken by the advisory board at this meeting.

Ending: The board set its next meetings for March 24 and April 28, 2025, and had no additional items for future discussion.