PRESENTER: Presenter
Ken Wilson, Parks and Recreation Director
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval and first reading of an ordinance amending park operating hours Sec. 86-3 - Rules and regulations for control of park and recreation areas.
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DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All districts
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Our park system hours of operation (with a few exceptions) are currently 6:00AM-midnight, 7 days a week. Cypress Bend Park is open 6 AM-dusk and cemeteries are open 8AM-6PM during Central Standard Time and 8AM-8PM during Daylight Savings Time.
Many of our parks become attractive nuisances late in the evening and we have seen increases in vandalism. The New Braunfels Police Department is supportive of the proposed changes. From January 2024 to April 2025, one hundred seventy-three (173) calls for service were made; thirteen (13) were between 10pm-12am. The remainder were after midnight.
The intent is to protect and preserve current Park assets and align our hours to our benchmark cities as well.
This item was presented to City Council on January 20, 2025, Special Presentations meeting.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☐Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☒Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board reviewed the proposed changes to park hours on April 8, 2025 and recommended the proposed changes by a vote of 6 in favor and 1 opposed.
Staff recommends approval of the following changes park hours:
• Cypress Bend Park: 6AM-dusk
• Comal Cemetery and New Braunfels Cemetery: 8AM-dusk
• All other parks (except where outlined otherwise in existing ordinance): 6AM-10PM