PRESENTER: Presenter
Ken Wilson, Parks and Recreation Director
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SUBJECT: Title
Presentation, discussion and possible direction to staff regarding updating Landa Park Aquatic Complex Dates of Operation and updating park curfew hours.
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DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All districts
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Landa Park Aquatic Center:
Traditionally, the Landa Park Aquatic Center and City Tube Chute operate the following summer schedule:
• May 1 - Memorial Day: weekends only
• Memorial Day - Mid August (when school is back in session): 7 days/week
• Mid-August - Labor Day: weekends only
Staffing weekends prior to Memorial Day and after school goes back into session has proven challenging over the years. Employees are in school Monday-Friday and are often not available on the weekends. The staffing challenges result in large portions of the aquatic facility being closed, hindering the customer experience.
In 2025, Landa Park Aquatic Center was undergoing a significant renovation and did not open until Memorial Day weekend. As a result, the month of May was utilized for onboarding, staff training and preparation of the facility for the busy summer season. We are still able to accommodate pre-season programming such as the Landa Park Dolphins Swim Team.
Benchmarking data shows that most municipal pool operations begin late May/Memorial Day weekend. The same benchmarking data does indicate that many of those same cities operate weekends only in August.
Park Hours:
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. Chief Flores spoke in favor of the park curfew adjustment and spoke on
the calls for service at Parks 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.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☐Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☐Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
FY25: The projected financial impact would have been $935.92.
FY26: The financial impact cannot yet be precisely determined; however, based on anticipated rate increases, we do not expect any adverse impact. The change is projected to result in a net cost savings.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Landa Park Aquatic Center:
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board reviewed the proposed changes to Landa Park Aquatic Center schedule November 18, 2025 and agreed with the proposed changes, no vote required.
Staff recommends approval of the following dates of operation:
City Tube Chute - No Change
Landa Park Aquatic Complex:
• Memorial Day Weekend - Mid August: 7 days a week
• Labor Day Weekend (Sat-Mon)
Park Hours:
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