Oroville adopts Huitt Park rules and fees; splash pad to open after final inspections

The Oroville City Council adopted a full set of operation rules and fees for Huitt Park, including defined park hours, a "kid zone" around the splash pad and playground, separate small‑ and large‑dog park rules, and reservation procedures for courts and the picnic pavilion.

Parks staff presented the regulations and a schedule of rates designed to cover operations and maintenance while keeping the park accessible. The pavilion will be reservable for two sessions per day with a cleaning deposit; courts will remain first-come, first-served except for scheduled reservations; city staff confirmed there is no general entry fee to use the park.

The splash pad will operate seasonally with sanitation controls, including UV disinfection and chlorine plus sand filtration; staff emphasized the pad is circulated water and discouraged drinking it. Park rules prohibit glass, weapons, smoking, vaping, unauthorized vending and overnight camping; the staff recommended posting the full rule set at each primary entrance rather than relying on QR codes.

Councilmembers asked about graffiti, drone activity and bounce houses; staff said chalk is allowed but vandalism will be removed and that drone flights are regulated by federal and state authorities and may require separate review. The council approved the rules and directed staff to print and install signs ahead of the park opening planned for early April.

What happens next: staff will finalize signage (two-week print lead time), coordinate final regulatory inspections for the splash pad and begin the posted operations schedule; pavilion reservations and special-use permits for larger events will route through community development.