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Woodland council narrows July 4 park access, approves ordinance setting 5 p.m. closure for city parks on July 4
Summary
Council approved a first-reading ordinance setting early park closure at 5 p.m. on July 4 to curb fireworks-related fires, trash and large gatherings at Horseshoe Lake Park; the measure passed with one councilmember voting no.
The Woodland City Council approved a first-reading ordinance June 2 that sets a uniform 5 p.m. closure time for all city parks on July 4, a move supporters say will reduce fireworks-related damage and the large, unsanctioned gatherings that overwhelmed Horseshoe Lake Park last year.
Mayor and staff described violent trashing, alcohol and fireworks at last year’s July 4 event at Horseshoe Lake Park, including a U-Haul loaded with fireworks and multiple incidents that required police intervention. Police Chief Gibbs said the crowd at peak night could exceed 500 people and recounted times when two officers on duty were “outnumbered” and unable to secure the park or respond to other city calls. “If we could actually have a couple of officers, I would obviously, unfortunately, be on overtime, but it would up our numbers. We can block off Park Road,” Gibbs said.
Council members supporting the ordinance cited safety, costly cleanup and past fires as reasons to set a fixed closure time and to allow public-works staff to post notices and place reader boards in advance. “I think it’s a good idea,” Council member Rounds said, noting the cleanup burden and safety risk. Council member Houston voted no and said 5 p.m. is too early because people swim all day and that closing every park at that time could inconvenience residents.
The ordinance’s first reading passed on a voice vote with one recorded no. The measure was presented as a proactive enforcement tool: staff and police said they will post closure notices a week in advance, use reader boards and assign officers to enforce the closure. The council did not adopt a different enforcement mechanism at the meeting; implementation details such as overtime budgeting and exact staffing were discussed but left to staff to arrange.
The change applies only to July 4 park hours and is intended to reduce the city’s cleanup costs and safety exposures on that high-use holiday. Council members said they will monitor outcomes and revisit the policy if needed.
