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Resident urges Johns Creek to rebalance access to Cauley Creek turf field
Summary
A Johns Creek resident told the Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee a long-standing exclusive permit for the Cauley Creek Park turf field limits family and open play; staff said some open time exists but will return with scheduling details and options for balancing organized programs and casual use.
A resident asked the Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee on March 19 to reassess how Cauley Creek Park’s turf field is scheduled, saying a permit held by the Johns Creek Sports Association effectively reserves most peak hours and leaves families little opportunity for casual play.
"My name is Juan David Bolivar, and I'm a resident of Johns Creek," Juan David Bolivar told the committee, saying that since last Friday more than 300 families had signed an online petition expressing frustration with the field’s availability. "Where can kids play if the turf field is the only field kids can use?" he asked.
Erica, the parks director, responded that the department uses facility-use agreements and RFPs to select nonprofit partners that supply programming while contributing reinvestment dollars back to parks. She said demand exceeds supply across parks and acknowledged staff tries to keep some open time available but does not have the field schedule on hand during the meeting.
Erica described operational concerns about advertising open-play windows: "If I posted that this field space was open on this day for the public, teams are going to show up there," she said, noting that publicizing open time can lead to teams occupying space and undermining the intent of open play.
Committee members asked whether a smaller section of turf could be set aside for first-come, first-served use and how the city would enforce such open time, especially if adult pickup leagues or private trainers assume use without a reservation. The committee discussed staffing implications for supervision and enforcement and urged staff to return with scheduling details and possible options.
Chair noted the park’s regional draw — that neighboring-city residents also use Cauley Creek — and said the park is still being built out, so additional fields in future phases could reduce scheduling pressure. Committee members expressed support for finding a practical balance that preserves organized youth programming while expanding access for families and casual users.
Next steps: staff committed to bringing scheduling data and potential options back to RPAC for follow-up. The meeting record shows no immediate policy change; any fee or permit adjustments would be considered by staff and brought to council if recommended.
