Recreation Park can be called Reservation
Park after new rental program
April 22, 2015
By Mike Kelley
Santa Paula News
Recreation Park can now be called Reservation Park after a new program was implemented.
The Recreation Park reservation program will ensure that those that want to use the park for family celebrations can do so without spending the night sitting on a picnic table to save a spot, as was done in the past.
There is a price though: $70 for the day and a $200 deposit for one of two spaces now available with reservation only. Recreation Park is located just north of the Boys & Girls Clubhouse on East Harvard Boulevard at Harding Park.
“With the start of the outdoor season more and more people are going to want to use — and — find out that they must pay to reserve — Recreation Park,” said Interim Recreation Director Ed Mount of the program adopted in 2014 by the then-City Council.
Other parks remain “first come, first served” but Recreation Park offers barbecue pits and restrooms that will be unlocked for reserved gatherings.
Hours of usage are 7 a.m. to an hour after sunset or 8 p.m. and there will be pre- and post-inspection with the renter. If the area is left clean and undamaged the $200 deposit will be refunded, a process that can take several weeks.
If someone reserves the park and then cancels within 30 days there will be a $50 fee.
There are other rules and regulations related to use such as no alcoholic beverages allowed and special requirements for Jolly Jumps.
Mount said those that rent the park space must “bring your amenities…we have a couple of benches,” but tables and chairs are the responsibility of the person renting the area.
The deposit will cover “Anything that needs to be repaired or any kind of damages or not leaving the area in the same condition they found it,” by not cleaning up after the gathering.
“If we have to do any cleanup,” said Mount, “staff will be charging them for what they do.”
The city is now advertising for a Park Monitor, one of two that will help with the program as well as take care of needs at other public parks.
Mount said the drill is “When we get a reservation at the office the park monitor will do a pre-inspection to see if anything is needed, or if there is anything they can help the renter with. Then at the end of the event the other monitor will do the post-inspection and make sure everything is okay.”
The park area will be marked as reserved and Mount said if anyone is present when there is a paid user “They will be asked nicely to leave…we haven’t had a problem,” on the weekends that so far have seen reserved events.
Signage at the park notes the reservation program for the two areas at Recreation Park and gives the phone to those interested in reserving park space for a special event.
For more information or to reserve park space call the City of Santa Paula Recreation Department, 933-4226 x 350.
