Commission grants one‑year conditional permit for Chico State tree‑climbing program at Children’s Park

The Parks and Recreation Commission on Aug. 25 voted 3‑1 to grant a conditional, one‑year special‑use permit allowing Adventure Outings at California State University, Chico to run technical tree‑climbing courses at Children’s Park, provided the program meets the city’s insurance requirements.

The permit authorizes supervised, helmeted and harnessed climbs under trained instructors and includes conditions meant to protect high‑value trees and public safety. The Associated Students of CSU Chico will hold the insurance policy and sign the permit, and the permit will be reviewed after 12 months, commissioners said.

Nate Farrington, program director for Adventure Outings at Chico State, told the commission the program blends recreation and education and has served students and community members for decades. “My name is Nate Farrington. I am the program director for Adventure Outings at Chico State,” Farrington said, describing the program’s use of ropes, harnesses, helmets, regular equipment inspections and instructor training. He said the Associated Students would carry the liability insurance the city requires and that the program already operates on campus and in nearby forests.

City parks staff raised conditions intended to reduce risk to heritage trees and to monitor any impact on park trees. Richie (last name not specified), a parks staff member, recommended excluding a large heritage sweet gum at Children’s Park from any climbing activity and suggested a 12‑month conditional permit so the city can reassess the program after monitoring. “My only reservation would be just to put the Heritage Sweet Gum off limits,” Richie said, calling the tree a locally significant specimen.

Commissioners who voted in favor said the program provides a controlled, professional alternative to unsupervised climbing and can strengthen town‑and‑gown ties. Commissioner Houghton said she welcomed the chance for children and residents to see safe, supervised examples of outdoor recreation: “I actually appreciate it…they see the safety equipment. Like, I actually like that they will see that people are having a care and that that’s the proper way to do it.”

Chair Willis opposed the permit, expressing concern about the park location and the potential for bystanders or children to imitate climbing outside the supervised setting. “I just feel it’s the wrong place to be doing this,” Willis said.

The commission’s motion, moved by Commissioner Nichols and seconded by Commissioner Shear, passed 3‑1. The recorded votes were: Commissioner Nichols — yes; Commissioner Shear — yes; Commissioner Nava — yes; Chair Willis — no. Absent from the vote were Commissioner Paiva, Commissioner Thomas Petty and Vice Chair Blachley.

Additional clarifications made at the hearing: the program is recreational (with an optional research component), participants pay a modest fee to cover staff time and gear wear, instructors use tree‑friendly techniques such as cambium protectors and slings to reduce branch damage, and the Associated Students will obtain the city‑required insurance before activities proceed. Commissioners asked that staff monitor tree health, consider rotating which trees are used to avoid repeated stress to a single tree, and report back at the end of the 12‑month conditional term.

The commission closed the hearing after the vote; staff will return any monitoring findings or recommended permit adjustments to the commission at a later date.