Roswell staff propose reservation system for Old Mill Park to reduce crowding and safety incidents

Parks staff told council that Old Mill Park’s concentrated weekend visitation and constrained parking are producing safety and neighborhood impacts that recurring ordinance changes and enforcement have not fully solved. To limit daily volumes and reduce the need for police-focused enforcement, staff recommended a reservation-based entry and parking validation system during the busy season.

Parks department leadership (presented as the parks director) described the problem: the city maintains roughly 60 parking spaces for Old Mill Park but sees thousands of visitors on peak days. The director recommended running a reservation program from May 1 through Sept. 30 that limits entry by the number of parking spaces and requires on-site validation. Reservations would be available up to 14 days in advance and could also be sold day-of if space remains.

Why it matters: staff said reservations would reduce overcrowding, allow staff to educate visitors about park rules (no coolers/open flames in certain areas, limited trail/water access), and reassign routine access management to part-time recreation staff instead of sworn officers. Chief Conroy and fire/rescue staff emphasized that most serious incidents in the creek require swiftwater-capable responders and fire/EMS resources; police enforcement remains necessary for ordinance citations or criminal acts.

Interagency and federal context: Old Mill Park abuts federal National Park Service land on the opposite side of the creek; staff cautioned that local rules cannot control access to federal land and that coordination with the National Park Service is required for messaging and signage. The National Park Service has already taken steps (e.g., alcohol prohibitions on its side) and will coordinate on safety signage.

Operational points and safeguards: staff said reservations would be validated (reservation confirmation and on-site check-in) rather than relying on anonymous day passes; the city intends to use part-time recreation staff to manage the gate/validation, reserving sworn officers for legal enforcement and emergency response. Staff acknowledged edge cases and potential gaming of reservations and committed to iterative rule adjustments (validation methods, anti-scalping controls) after initial rollout.

What’s next: staff will refine the reservation system details, coordinate with police and fire on event-day egress plans, and return with operational guidance and staffing plans. There was no council vote; staff aims to have a plan in place before peak visitation season.