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Parks director: city will inspect and begin minimal maintenance of 10 city‑owned parcels historically managed by HOAs
Summary
Parks Director Sarah Garzo told council the city owns 10 parcels that were dedicated to public use but historically maintained by homeowners’ associations; staff will inspect the sites, provide basic hazard mitigation and minimal maintenance to reduce liability, and return with recommendations about service levels and funding options for playground replacements.
Parks and Recreation Director Sarah Garzo told the council on May 19 that staff identified 10 city‑owned parcels that were historically recorded as public‑use dedication but typically maintained by homeowners’ associations. As those amenities age and occasional hazards arise, the city has determined it must inspect and provide at least a basic maintenance level to reduce legal risk.
Garzo said the city’s parks department conducted a records review and site inventories after the department formed in 2022 and discovered that developers and HOAs had historically maintained the parcels after dedication. Over time some amenities — including older wooden playground equipment — have failed or been removed, and recent reports of broken boards and other hazards prompted staff to evaluate city liability and recreational‑immunity exposure.
“We can no longer not maintain these properties,” Garzo told council, explaining that the city must either actively manage the assets or document and mitigate hazards to protect the public and the city’s legal position. City crews will visit each site, remove obvious hazards, cut grass and take temporary safety measures where needed. Replacing playground equipment is not in the current capital budget; Garzo said replacement would require a future capital appropriation or could be arranged through HOA reimbursement, as occurred previously at Bryce Park where an HOA funded replacement and the city assisted with purchase and volunteer installation.
Garzo said she will return to council with a categorized list of the 10 parcels, recommended service levels, and any budget requests needed to restore or replace amenities. Council members thanked staff for the historical background and for clarifying how responsibility and maintenance will be handled going forward.
