CITY OF LAKELAND WILL KEEP LAKE PARKER PARK OPEN ON SUNDAYS |
LAKELAND, FL (June 24, 2008) -- The City of Lakeland has plans to keep Lake Parker Park open on Sundays with revised limited hours effective Sunday, July 5, 2008. Lake Parker Park will open at 11 a.m. on Sundays and close at 7 p.m. The City will allocate funds that will move two employees to Lake Parker Park while the Coleman Bush Building is closed for renovations.
These two Coleman Busch employees were temporarily reassigned to provide maintenance services at the Lake Mirror Complex and Simpson Park to backfill vacancies. The Parks and Recreation staff believes that reducing the impacts to the large number of families and park participants on the weekend represents a higher priority.
Bill Tinsley, Director of Parks and Recreation said, I am pleased to say that we found a way to keep one of our more popular parks open on Sundays. Our goal is to have all of the parks open but this is a start. He added, With limited staff in the parks for the balance of the year, we are asking people to take the trash they bring to the park home with them. We can all do our part to keep Lakeland the wonderful place we are proud of.
Although this modification will not directly impact the scheduled Sunday closures of Peterson Park and Lake Bonny Park, it will provide an alternative Sunday park option for residents.
Modified Park Closing Schedule:
Lake Bonny Park Closed Sundays and City Holidays
Peterson Park Closed Sundays and City Holidays
Lake Parker Park Closed Wednesdays and City Holidays
Summer Hours: 8 a.m. till 8 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. till 7 p.m.
No Restrooms or trash pick up available on Weekends at following Parks:
Woodlake Park
Dobbins Park
Beerman Family Tennis Complex
Westside Complex
Southwest Complex
No weekend Trash Pick up at following Parks:
7th Street Park Jackson Park
North Lake Wire Park Webster park
The City of Lakeland Parks Divisions recently had to trim over $500,000 from the current budget because of the decrease in shared sales and communication tax revenues distributed from the state. In order to meet the budget restrictions, the division had to reduce the number of seasonal employees that assist in park operations. Unfortunately, because of the decrease in staffing levels, some parks will close for at least one day per week and service levels will be reduced.
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