Guymon council renames tree board as City Park Board, reduces membership to five

The Guymon City Council on July 8 approved an ordinance renaming Section 2-97 of the Guymon Code of Ordinances to the City Park Board and passed a resolution to set the board’s membership to five members serving staggered terms.

City staff told the council the rename is intended to simplify the board’s title; the previous name included "tree board/city park board" wording dating to a federal grant-era nursery program from the late 1990s. Staff said the board’s focus remains on city parks and interacting with the public about park needs across the city’s roughly 12–14 parks.

Council also adopted Resolution No. 25-11 to reduce the park board from seven members to five and to set staggered terms. Staff said the change matches statutory expectations and was expected to improve volunteer participation; the staff report noted three of the park board seats were currently vacant.

Both measures were approved by unanimous vote and the council also declared the ordinance an emergency so the name change takes effect immediately.

Councilmembers and staff said the adjustments aim to streamline board administration and encourage stable volunteer participation while preserving the board’s role in advising the city on park issues.