City of Yuma change park hours to increase safety

YUMA, AZ (AZFamily) — At least twenty parks in the City of Yuma will close two hours earlier.

The city approved a new curfew despite opposition from community members.

Selected parks will now be open from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., a cutback from the previous 11:00 p.m. curfew.

The City of Yuma said it’s in an effort to make parks safer.

The parks on the list include those with limited amenities with no lights.

“They’re more of the small neighborhood parks that are unlit,” said Deputy Mayor Chris Morris.

Morris said the decision was based on feedback from the city’s parks and recreation department and Yuma police.

“It was with concern that we had some potential crime and vandalism at some of the parks after hours,” said Morris.

The city also looked at data from the YPD park patrol.

The park patrol is a new initiative that started in February.

From March to June, they found that of the more than 400 police encounters at parks, nearly half were past the 11:00 p.m. curfew.

“Two hundred and three were given warnings for being in a park after hours. No citations written, no arrests like that, it was more of an education. Letting people know these are the park hours. You can come back during those times,” said Lori Franklin, YPD Sergeant.

Franklin said having some of these parks open past nine with no lights can lead to vandalism or other crimes.

“Sometimes crimes happen especially when it’s dark, sometimes it’s just not as safe. So what the city is doing is hey, the parks don’t have lights are closing at nine. The ones that do have light, it’s business as usual they stay open until eleven,” said Franklin.

There are still about 30 other parks that will remain open until 11:00 p.m.

That includes major parks like West Wetlands, Smucker and Carver Park.

Morris said they tried to even out the amount of parks open in different areas.

“We actually took a look at that to make sure before passing this that all neighborhoods are still going to have a nearby park that has the proper amenities and lighting so people can still go after dark and enjoy that needed time outdoors.”

Morris said residents still have the option to apply for a permit at all parks.

“If you’re throwing a party or event at a park that closes at nine, you can get a permit for the day so the curfew is extended,” he said.

The ordinance goes into effect on Aug. 16.

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