Players Without Permits Causing Problems At El Paso Parks

Despite the summer heat, El Paso officials said city parks are still bouncing back after February’s freeze, and they said some sports fans aren’t making things any easier.

El Paso City Manager Joyce Wilson told ABC-7 there is an issue with people and even organized leagues using park fields without the proper permits.

The misuse is tearing up the grass on the facilities and “degrading them,” she said.

Wilson added some people even jump fences after hours to use the fields.

Joel McKnight, Deputy Director of El Paso’s General Services department told ABC-7, “Our biggest problem and the biggest threat for people to be able to enjoy our sports fields and our parks is the unpermitted use of those game areas.”

Wilson said there is a potential fix for the issue tucked away in her fiscal year 2012 city budget in the form of more staffing for El Paso’s code compliance office.

The budget calls for the addition of nine code compliance staff, including inspectors.

Wilson said extra patrols could be deployed after hours and on weekends.

But the added staffing would come with a price.

The city manager said some of the funding would come in the form of a $0.50 increase for residential environmental fees and a $1 increase for businesses.

El Paso City Council would need to approve Wilson’s budget as is for that to happen.

Budget hearings are scheduled to begin July 13 with a final City Council vote scheduled for late August.