Supervisor Avalos’s parks initiative draws broad public comment over privatization and budget trade-offs

Supervisor John Avalos introduced a ballot initiative he called “Parks for the Public,” telling the Rules Committee the measure would protect public access to parks by prohibiting new long-term leases of recreation facilities and barring new general-access entry fees. Avalos said the proposal responds to examples in which public investments appear to have produced facilities that are not open to the general public, singling out the Cayuga clubhouse renovation as a case where residents fear access could be limited.

The measure’s language, Avalos said, is intended to preserve facilities “that should offer general public access,” and to prevent future conversion of clubhouses and other recreational facilities into long-term exclusive uses. He emphasized the initiative is not intended to block routine permits such as birthday parties: “This is about…