Residents press National City committee over park conditions; staff says Las Palmas restrooms will open next month

At a meeting of National City’s Parks, Recreation and Senior Citizens Advisory Committee, residents and committee members pressed staff about safety and maintenance problems at Las Palmas and El Toyon parks, including large holes in outfields, vandalized restrooms and repeated construction delays.

A resident who spoke during public comment urged faster repairs and more patrols, saying, “I’m here to post the concern about Las Palmas Park… there are big holes in the outfield. We’ve asked for trucks and dirt, so we can fill in the big holes out there… and we never got it.” The commenter also reported prostitution and drug activity near porta‑potties at the site.

Mike Pacheco, the city’s community services director, and Steve Maganill, director of engineering and public works, said staff would follow up. Maganill said the city is using modular restroom units as a cost‑effective replacement and confirmed, “those restrooms will be opened, next month, fully finished and open to the public.” He also said the city applied for a state grant last September for what he described as “approximately a $700,000 investment” to address drainage, regrading, ADA paths, new sod, bleachers and outfield fences at two little‑league fields at Las Palmas.

Maganill acknowledged that contractors have had to redo work that did not match plan specifications and that vandalism has been a recurring expense. He said the city has increased porta‑potty servicing schedules and has required contractors to restock supplies more frequently after repeated theft and vandalism; he noted the city had to process a roughly $30,000 change order at a prior restroom installation because of damage and repairs.

Committee members pushed staff for better lighting, more visible signage to prevent off‑leash dogs and for the city to consider ranger or enforcement models to deter encampments and illegal activity. Several members also said communication about project timelines has been inconsistent; one committee member said scheduled bathroom completion dates given previously had not been met and asked for clearer access to project plans.

Maganill said the capital improvement prioritization is based on public health and safety and community feedback, and that staff will continue coordinating with the park superintendent and the committee. He committed to keep the group updated on the grant outcome and upcoming field work and to follow up about additional short‑term fixes such as adding fill dirt and doing regrading work when fields dry out.

The committee did not take any new formal action that night on funding or enforcement models; staff said they would return with updates and that members could request future agenda items through the council agenda process.