Keizer board narrows summer field lighting, requires reservations for organized use

The Keizer Parks and Recreation Board on June 10 voted unanimously to recommend changes to park rules that keep weeknight field lighting at current hours but allow extended lighting on Friday and Saturday evenings during summer, and to require reservations for organized activities on community fields.

Board members said the amendments respond to requests from local sports groups for additional time while trying to balance neighbors’ complaints about noise. Robert (parks staff) told the board the proposed edits were meant “to align” the fields’ lit hours with how late the rest of Keizer parks can be used in summer and to make the rules consistent across park properties.

Neighbors who attended urged caution. Carol Phipps, a West Keizer Neighborhood Association board member, asked that any extended hours be a trial and that adjacent residents be surveyed after a test period. “If indeed … they change 10 to 10:30, I would ask that it be a trial period,” Phipps said. Ellen Marsh, who lives along the Keizer Rapids park line, told the board she prefers a 9 p.m. cutoff and that noise from games is disruptive to people who work mornings: “I go to bed at 9, so it being 9 is…works better for those of us that have to work for a living,” Marsh said.

Robert clarified that lights are turned on only for scheduled, reserved play and not for general open play, and that dimming the lights can provide a short exit window at the end of events. “Lights are only turned on for arranged organized play that’s reserved,” he said. Board members discussed using a dim phase to allow teams time to leave the site safely while still aligning with the city noise ordinance.

The board’s recommendation—approved unanimously—keeps the status quo Sunday through Thursday and allows lights to remain on until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays from Memorial Day through Labor Day to permit teams to finish and exit the facility. The motion also accepted revised language clarifying that organized activities (team practice, skills camps, group training sessions and similar activities) require a field reservation; the board amended the draft to replace the phrase “individual training sessions” with “group training sessions” to avoid requiring one-on-one lessons to use the reservation system.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes (April 8 and April 29): Motion to approve both sets of minutes passed unanimously. Mover: board member (unnamed in transcript). Second: Jill (board member). Outcome: approved unanimously. - Lighting schedule recommendation: Motion (as discussed) to maintain status quo Sunday–Thursday and allow extended lighting on Friday–Saturday (Memorial Day–Labor Day) so lights are off by 10 p.m.: Moved by Lisa (board member); seconded by Gwen (board member). Outcome: passed unanimously. - Reservation-language amendment: Motion to adopt the redline language for organized activities, amending “individual training sessions” to read “group training sessions”: Moved by Don (board member); motion carried unanimously.

Why it matters: Keizer Rapids Community Fields are newly active and host soccer, lacrosse and other organized sports. Board members and staff said the rules seek to balance public use, field preservation and neighbor concerns about late-night noise. Marlene Parsons (City Council liaison) noted the parks board’s recommendation will go to Keizer City Council for final action; council may accept, modify, or reject the board’s recommendation.

Next steps: The board chair and staff will present the recommendation to the City Council at its upcoming meeting; staff said public works and the city manager will be available to answer questions. Board members encouraged residents who feel strongly to attend the council meeting and submit written comments.

Provenance: The board opened discussion on the parks rules amendment after public comments and staff presentation beginning with the parks rules item; the board made and voted on the motions during the June 10 meeting.