Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Rules Hours topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council asks staff to draft ordinance adopting parks board hours and rules, with pickleball hours flagged for neighbor review
Summary
After a presentation on park rules and hours, the council directed staff to draft an ordinance reflecting Parks Board recommendations (general hours, facility-specific hours, geocaching allowed, smoking/vaping ban) and to bring it forward for public hearing; pickleball hours will be monitored for neighbor impacts.
City engineer Mark Hersey presented proposed citywide park rules and hours May 19 and summarized the Parks Board's recommendations for amendments to Battleground Municipal Code (BGMC) on park hours, permitted uses and signage.
The Parks Board recommended general park hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; facility-specific hours for Kiwanis pickleball and basketball courts of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and a skate-park schedule of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The board also recommended adding geocaching as an allowed use (without damage), and an explicit ban on smoking and vaping in city parks.
Council members asked questions about lighting, neighbor impacts at the new pickleball courts, drainage and site security near the sound wall, and whether trees would be planted as screening. Staff said the pickleball project was nearing completion and that 15-gallon (approximately 5'6 feet tall at planting) trees would be installed as part of landscaping. Staff acknowledged unresolved drainage concerns and said the project manager had addressed issues in the field; staff committed to follow up with the council on remaining stormwater and downspout details.
Council members expressed mixed preferences on fixed hours versus keeping the city's current dawn-to-dusk standard until the courts have been used. Parks board members had suggested trial hours for lit facilities to allow adjustments based on actual noise and neighbor feedback. Several council members supported adding geocaching and banning smoking.
Action: The council gave direction and consensus to staff to draft an ordinance reflecting the Parks Board recommendations and to bring the ordinance forward for public hearing and adoption. Council asked staff to be responsive to neighbor complaints after facilities open and to consider trial or temporary adjustments if needed.
Why it matters: The new pickleball courts and other lit facilities change how and when parks are used; the council balanced recreational access against neighbor concerns about noise and drainage. The updated rules would also formalize practices already in place (smoking restrictions) and clarify permitted activities.
Next steps: Staff will prepare an ordinance for public hearing and return to the council with the draft and any recommended refinements, including follow-up information on drainage and screening.
