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Pawnee City approves extra pool hours, trail lighting and temporary toilets as parks vandalism continues
Summary
Council approved extended hours for a July 3 pool event, additional lighting on the Dr. Rick Jackson Trail (estimated $54/month additional power), two temporary portable toilets at the Pawnderosa and testing cameras to deter vandalism after repeated incidents at Van Horne Park.
Pawnee City councilors moved July 22 to address recent vandalism and safety concerns in city parks by approving added lighting along the Dr. Rick Jackson Trail, purchasing two portable toilets for the Pawnderosa, and extending pool hours for the city’s “Last Blast of Summer Fiesta.”
Council Member Susan Eisenhauer outlined several park problems, including damaged electrical conduit at Van Horne Park and worn pool coating that has exposed concrete at the shallow end. She said Wilson Electric had repaired a conduit and added a light on a 60‑minute timer; NPPD will repair existing trail lights and install additional fixtures. Eisenhauer reported the estimated additional electricity cost for four new lights would be about $54 per month.
On event scheduling, the council approved extended hours for the midnight swim on Aug. 3: general public access from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and ages 12 and over from 9 p.m. to midnight, with the pool closing Aug. 4. To deter further vandalism at the Pawnderosa and Van Horne Park, the council approved purchasing one traditional solar‑powered camera and one game camera to test which works better; Council Member Eisenhauer said the traditional camera costs about $100 and the game camera about $300–$400 and will be budgeted from this fiscal year.
Because people have been defecating behind closed restrooms and near campers at the pond, the council approved buying two portable toilets for the Pawnderosa until a permanent restroom can be built; Eisenhauer shared conceptual drawings for a future cement‑block restroom with possible showers and accessible features.
Why it matters: The council’s actions are an immediate response to public‑safety and sanitation problems in parks, balancing short‑term deterrence and facility fixes with longer‑term capital planning and grant pursuit for more permanent improvements.
What comes next: Staff will install additional lighting and cameras, place two portable toilets at the Pawnderosa, and include pool repair photos in a grant application for pool resurfacing; councilors noted possible pipe repairs under the pool and recommended further investigation.
