Lake Havasu City parks director reports new lights, programs, hires and school-field agreement

Lake Havasu City Parks and Recreation Director Cameron Rivera told the advisory board on March 24 that the department has completed lighting upgrades at multiple facilities, is expanding aquatics and youth programs, will post summer hiring, and will move forward with additional school fields after a city council vote.

Rivera, the department director, opened the director’s report by saying the staff had changed the format of the report to include visual updates and images and then reviewed work completed and planned across parks, aquatics and recreation programs. “We switched it up, and this is how we'll proceed forward for the future,” Rivera said.

The most visible facility changes include new lighting at pickleball courts at Dick’s Grama and improved lighting at Memorial Park playgrounds, plus new benches and picnic tables earmarked for the Main Street Commons park. Rivera said the crow’s nest at Sarah Park Field 1 received two new metal doors and other repairs, and park crews have worked to dry and prepare ballfields after recent, atypical rainfall.

Rivera reviewed aquatics programming: kinder swim lessons continue through April; Chimawebe Head Start lessons run Wednesdays through April; a new session of regular swim lessons starts April 7 and runs through April 30; and the pool will be closed April 18 in observance of Good Friday. Lifeguard-instructor classes are scheduled with Bullhead and Lake Havasu City staff on April 12, and boating-safety and kayaking classes run April 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Rivera said the aquatic coordinator Matthew Dickinson will shadow the Goodyear, Arizona, aquatic supervisor in April to share best practices.

The department is planning summer adaptive swim classes for June and July under the Angelfish program and said it is coordinating with Crit for lessons and lifeguarding targeted to tribal members. A drop-in “Baby and Me” yoga class for parents and pre-walkers runs Tuesdays at the aquatic center for a $5 fee.

Rivera highlighted recent and upcoming family events: a 30th-anniversary celebration for an aquatic facility with the Elks on May 3; a children’s “Come Grow With Us” planting event on April 19 (75 slots, $5); a Truck-a-Palooza on May 15 coordinated with Public Works, Fire and Police departments; adult kayaking sessions April 12 and May 17; and a babysitting class on May 3. Rivera also recapped a two-day “Come Fly With Us” program that included an airport tour and participation by about 19 pilots, and said spring break camp drew 134 participants.

On staffing, Rivera said the city will post recreation-aide openings March 31, is hiring for two program coordinator positions, and is continuing a one-week lifeguard recruitment push. Rivera also announced the catalyst-naming contest winner for Main Street Commons: Sherry Butler will be the guest of honor at the park grand opening and will have a dedicated bench.

Rivera told the board that the City Council “unanimously decided and signed on for the amendment of the IGA,” which staff will use to organize additional fields and coordinate with local schools and principals to make the fields available to youth leagues. Rivera described the council action as a “huge win for the parks department, for the city, and for the school district.”

During a brief public comment, resident Doug Carr said he had visited the pickleball courts and asked when lights would be available; Rivera replied that the lights “are up and running” and noted the installation was included in her report. Board members asked about marketing plans for the Main Street Commons; Rivera and staff said event programming (notably Desert Storm on April 24) will be the primary early driver of visibility, and additional advertising will follow as the park is completed. A member of the board also praised recently installed crosswalk signage intended to improve pedestrian safety around the new park and downtown event areas.

The board had two brief formal items: it approved the Feb. 24, 2025, meeting minutes with a motion by Vice Chair Mercedes Keiser to add her name to the present list and move Karen Cooper to absent; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The board also reached a consensus to cancel its May 26 meeting because that date falls on Memorial Day; staff said they would call a meeting if urgent matters arise.

The board scheduled its next regular meeting for April 28.