Keeping Aurora parks safe could cost almost $1 million

An illegal homeless encampment at an Aurora park.Photo byCity of Aurora

The City of Aurora has taken steps to make its parks and open spaces safer, but to do the job right city administrators say they need $971,000 in 2025.

Assistant Parks, Recreation and Open Space Director Brian Green revealed the budget amount during the Parks, Foundation and Quality of Life Committee of the City Council. Green explained that the city this year rolled out a new program that placed security guards in recreation centers. He called the program a success saying guards haven been “getting to know visitors and staff.” He said the contractor shows up for work daily.

Green said the city also has begun night patrols in city parks. He said there is a security guard on patrol on the city’s north side and another on the south side. This appears to have reduced night crime in the parks, Green said. He said the 2025 budget would allow Aurora to double its armed parks security patrol to four cars.

Parks where crime occurs include Aqua Vista, Delaney Farms, Utah Park, and Sports Park. Green said thefts and vandalism trended down in 2023. He said most crimes were reported during the daytime.

Illegal camping, parking lot crimes

Other crimes included illegal camping and crimes in parking lots such as at Mission Viejo Park. Lit parking lots had the most crime, Green said. The city deployed two mobile cameras to the sites so police could watch for trouble remotely.

Park rangers contacted 438 camp sites through June 2024, 123 of which were referred to the homeless outreach team for removal, Green said.

Kids on mini-bikes, lone rangers

Other violations included children as young as 8 riding mini-bikes and ATVs at parks. Park rangers in 2023 logged 1,1318 routine patrols and 391 focused patrols in the city parks. An additional 558 routine patrols and 267 focused patrols occurred in the city’s open space areas.

Green said some patrols “literally had lone rangers” in 2023 due to a staffing shortage. He said the rangers perform less efficiently and are less safe when on patrol alone. The 2025 budget includes a doubling of the ranger program. The department hopes to hire four rangers for $346,000, add two patrol cars for $136,000, two mobile camera trailers for $100,000, and hire a private security firm for the reservoir during the summer months for $89,000.

The expanded daytime park ranger program will allow officials to make visits to additional parks that have requested patrols or double up on drive-by checks of problem parks.

Drinkers disrupt reservoir

This summer, drinkers at the Aurora reservoirs began to blast their music and aggravate other patrons. The city imposed a ban on alcoholic beverages. During that time, anyone caught drinking either had to pour out all their alcohol or leave the park and take it with them, Green said.

Committee Chairman Ruben Medina wondered how the offenders could be banned from re-entry. Green said the problem is there currently is no mechanism for identifying visitors to the reservoir. Medina suggested license plates be scanned upon entry, but Green said even then they only would have information on who the car is registered to, which may not be the offender.