Board hears updates on Pirate Cove completion, pickleball lighting and summer programming

The Parks and Recreation Board received project and program updates on March 9 from staff.

Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Brent Stowers reported that Pirate Cove playground shade and much of the concrete work are complete, though a stamped-and-stained concrete section must cure and be sealed after a 28‑day period. "The playground is pretty much... completed out," he said, adding that staff will finish sodding and irrigation work.

Stowers said lights for the new pickleball courts "did get installed last week" but that power has not yet been connected due to wet weather; he expects underground work to proceed once a multi-day dry spell arrives. Board members discussed proposed operating hours and timers; Stowers described a timer/push-button system that runs for fixed intervals (e.g., 30–45 minutes configurable) and suggested testing later hours to measure use before settling on a permanent cutoff. "We could try leaving them on till midnight and pull reports to see if people are playing past 10:00," he said.

Program staffer Ally Holman reviewed spring and summer offerings, noting early registration for summer camp runs through April 15 with a 10% discount and that the summer rec pass provides access May 26–Aug 12; she said the department will offer more than 90 camps for ages 3–16 and highlighted upcoming events such as an Easter Bunny Brunch on April 4 and a Summer Kickoff on May 29.

Stowers also said parking design iterations for Community Park are nearing completion with a target to present a finalized set in April and possible construction on concrete work during the summer. He added that drinking fountains are usually turned on around spring break.

The board did not take formal action on these items; staff will continue to finalize timelines and report back as projects progress.