Park board recommends shorter evening hours at some parks and adjusts hours at Young Family Athletic Center

Parks staff asked the Park Board to recommend City Council approve revised hours of operation for multiple park types and for the Young Family Athletic Center (YFAC). The Park Board voted to forward the proposed park-hour changes to Council and approved staff’s recommended YFAC hour adjustments.

Why it matters: Posted park hours affect when parks are staffed, when enforcement can clear late-night gatherings and when users may expect facilities to be open for programmed activities. Adjustments to YFAC hours respond to usage patterns and staffing costs, particularly lifeguard coverage for the pool.

Park hours: staff said earlier city-wide practice of dawn-to-dusk or a single set of hours created enforcement and safety challenges at some parks. The police department requested changes to better align enforcement staffing and curfews. Staff proposed, and the board supported, the following general approach: - Community parks: shorten some late-night hours (example in staff recommendation: shift 6 a.m.–midnight to 6 a.m.–11 p.m. in many community parks; seasonal adjustments where appropriate). - Neighborhood parks: earlier closing times during certain seasons (example: proposed 6 a.m.–9 p.m. in summer and 8 a.m.–6 p.m. in fall/winter for some natural areas; note: parks with hybrid or event uses may have different hours). - Special-use parks (e.g., Creekside Bike Park, Sutton Wilderness Nature Park, Bishop Creek Eco Park): seasonal hours were proposed to match daylight and intended use (Creekside: April–October 6 a.m.–9 p.m.; winter months 8 a.m.–6 p.m., as presented). Staff said recommended time changes were intended to improve public safety, reduce late-night incidents in parks and make it easier for officers to clear park areas during shift changes.

Young Family Athletic Center (YFAC) hours: staff presented usage and check-in data showing peak pool use in early mornings and heavier gym/indoor use later in the day. To reduce staffing and holiday premium-pay costs while maintaining service, staff recommended (board approved) the following hours: - Weekdays: pool 7 a.m.–7 p.m.; gym 8 a.m.–8 p.m. - Saturdays: pool 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; gym 10 a.m.–6 p.m. - Sundays: 12 p.m.–4 p.m. (no change) - Holidays: close for City-observed holidays listed in staff materials (staff noted opening facilities on holidays is costly when holiday pay and overtime are applied). Staff emphasized that scheduled programs, rentals and camps could still occur outside standard public hours with separate scheduling and staffing arrangements.

Board action: The Park Board recommended City Council approve park-hour changes and approved the YFAC hours change recommendation, both by voice vote.

Ending: Staff will forward the hour-change recommendations to City Council for formal adoption where required and will update signage and public-facing information after council action.