Albany staff outline how AB 2404 applies to fields; students press for sand volleyball courts

Albany recreation staff presented how California Assembly Bill 2404 — commonly described in the presentation as the Fair Play and Community Sports Act (AB 2404) — is being implemented for city-managed fields and courts, and said the city gives scheduling priority to girls’ teams when assigning facility time.

Joy Wyatt, recreation supervisor with the city's Recreation and Community Services Department, told the Parks, Recreation & Open Space Commission that “Assembly Bill 2404 is a California law prohibiting gender discrimination in community youth sports program.” Wyatt said the city collects season-by-season, self‑reported participation data from leagues and groups as part of its reservation process and applies a priority-use classification in the master fee schedule; department-sponsored events and school-sponsored activities receive top priority, and girls’ teams are given priority within community youth group reservations to help balance field use.

Wyatt described Albany’s field and court inventory: Memorial Field (adjacent to Albany High School) has no lights and a locked gate; Ocean View Park has lights and reservations available until 10 p.m.; the city has seven tennis courts and four pickleball courts across parks, with varying lighting and reservation rules. She said the city accepts online season applications (spring, summer and fall) and time-stamps submissions to set priority. Wyatt also acknowledged limitations: the participation counts are self-reported by organizations and the city has no statutory “teeth” under AB 2404 — the law requires opportunity and nondiscrimination but does not create penalties or incentives at the city level.

Public commenters pressed the commission for more dedicated volleyball space. Samara, an eighth grader at Albany Middle School, told commissioners, “I would like to advocate for girls volleyball courts in Albany Parks, specifically sand volleyball courts,” and described long travel times to the nearest sand courts. Another eighth grader, Annika, said Albany had six middle‑school teams and that “we had 70 girls at tryouts just for eighth grade,” arguing a local sand court would increase practice access and balance space use between traditionally male‑dominated sports and volleyball.

Commissioners and staff discussed options including a dedicated sand court at Ocean View Park, the possibility of flex courts (adjustable nets that accommodate tennis, volleyball and other uses) and whether a court built without formal reservation would show up in the city’s AB 2404 participation counts. Staff said informal, walk-up use or one-time reservations would not be captured in the seasonal application data that drives AB 2404 reporting, but that adding courts could still increase community access even if the usage does not immediately reflect in the self‑reported totals.

Commissioners asked staff for follow-up: possible short‑term fixes (adjustable portable nets and lower height settings), a status update on any previous trial or pilot courts, and whether the city could include sand volleyball or flex court options in the capital improvement planning process. Wyatt and other staff said they would examine previous surveys, review program data, and return with details and options for planning and funding.

Why it matters: AB 2404 requires local programs to provide equal opportunities for girls in community youth athletics; commissioners and students emphasized that facility design and availability (including courts and lighting) drive who can participate. The commission signaled support for pursuing practical ways to increase girls' access — from low‑cost net adjustments to adding sand or flexible courts in future capital work.