Parks board votes to seek ordinance change to close City Park and Liberty Field at 10 p.m.; cites vandalism
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Summary
The Pacific Park Board voted to request a change to park closing hours — proposing a 10 p.m. curfew for City Park and Liberty Field instead of midnight — citing repeated vandalism and restroom damage; the change must be adopted by the Board of Aldermen to take effect.
Park Superintendent Chris Fowler told the board on July 14 that vandalism and repeated property damage at City Park and Liberty Field have increased maintenance burdens and costs, and he recommended earlier closing hours to help reduce incidents. “Why keep it open till midnight? It just, I mean, what what's good happened at midnight?” Fowler asked, arguing a 10 p.m. closure could reduce late-night vandalism.
Fowler described a recent incident in which a restroom was found filled with about three inches of dirt, and he said crews were spending extra hours daily to clean and repair damage. The board discussed enforcement limitations — there are no access gates at the two sites and enforcement would rely on police patrols — and agreed that special events could be exempt through permits.
Action taken: a board member moved to change regular hours so City Park and Liberty Field close at 10 p.m. instead of midnight and another member seconded; the motion passed by voice vote. Board Chairman Ryan Schecker noted the regulation change must go to the Board of Aldermen for adoption as a rule or ordinance before it takes effect.
Why it matters: earlier closing hours would change when the public can use two major park sites and could reduce staff time spent cleaning vandalism, but enforcement depends on police patrols and public awareness of the new hours.
Next steps: the parks board approved the motion and asked staff to forward the request to the Board of Aldermen for a formal regulation change; the city’s police department will be relied on for enforcement if adopted.