RADFORD – The City of Radford has adopted new guidelines for the city’s parks and public spaces “to better address the safety and utilization of those areas,” according to Mayor David Horton.
All outdoor parks, playgrounds, and recreational facilities in the City of Radford will now be open to the public from 5 a.m. until midnight each day, and people will not be permitted in any outdoor park, playground, or recreational facility in the city between the hours of between midnight and 5 a.m.
“We have had a problem with unauthorized camping in our parks and the inappropriate blocking of areas on trails and other spaces,” Horton said. “There has also been significant litter and other pollutants left in the park areas.”
“We are very aware that some people who are unhoused have decided to make living areas in our parks and recreational spaces,” he continued. “That is not the function of those areas. Radford City Police have created resource guides and work to help connect those in need to support and will continue to do so as we address this issue. We have the greatest sympathy for those experiencing tough times and want to help them find the best path for a better tomorrow. Establishing bases or homes in our parks is not that solution and we have been working to learn about best practices for helping the unhoused find appropriate accommodations.”
Violation of the rules will be considered trespassing.
The city manager can give written permission for specific overnight events. Also, a person may “access a boat landing or ramp located in any outdoor park, playground, or recreational facility at any time for the purposes of launching or retrieving a boat or other watercraft,”
The remainder of the rules include the following:
In the event that any personal property is left unattended for more than 24 hours at any outdoor park, playground, or recreational facility in the city, such property shall be deemed abandoned and may be disposed of in the discretion of the City or as otherwise required by law.
Nothing in the rules should “be interpreted as limiting the authority of the City Manager or the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department from temporarily closing or restricting the use of any outdoor park, playground, or recreational facility, or any portion thereof, for maintenance, improvement, safety reasons, facility rentals, or other city purposes.”
Staff report