MINUTES
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
EAST ANAHEIM COMMUNITY CENTER
8201 E. SANTA ANA CANYON RD., ANAHEIM, CA 92808
August 27, 2025 – 6:00 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: STAFF PRESENT:
CarlottaRhea Clark, Chair Sjany Larson-Cash, Director
Greg Martin, Vice Chair Kimberely Kelemen, Community Services Superintendent Jim Cook JJ Jimenez, Parks Manager
Bill Couture Ana Straabe, Principal Project Planner
Tony Flores Kamila Rodriguez, Senior Secretary
Robert Ryan
Fred Sigala, Jr.
A G E N D A A C T I O N T A K E N
1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Clark called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Vice Chair Martin led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: Shorlette Knighton addressed the Commission to share her findings from personal research on public tennis courts in Anaheim and surrounding cities. She expressed her desire to retain as many tennis courts within the City as possible and utilize other sports courts or vacant space for future pickleball expansion. Resident Daniel Standish spoke to the Commission to advocate for the expansion of pickleball infrastructure within City parks, specifically at Olive Hills Park where the surrounding environment is non-residential, eliminating potential barriers related to noise complaints.
4. SCHEDULED COMMUNICATION: None.
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Chair Clark presented the July 23, 2025 Minutes for changes or corrections.
Chair Clark made a motion to accept the Minutes, seconded by Commissioner Couture. The motion was approved with 6 votes in favor and 1 abstention. Chair Clark accepted the Minutes.
6. REPORTS:
a) Park Ranger Report – July: Kimberely Kelemen presented the report, noting that patrol levels in June and July 2025 remained steady, reflecting consistent park ranger staffing. She highlighted an increase in patron counts from June to July, likely due to local schools beginning summer break. Compared to July 2024, however, public contacts showed a significant decrease, attributed to corrected documentation practices among ranger staff. She also reported an increase in curfew advisements which could be related to a rise in transient activity at several parks, including Edison, Maxwell, Sage, and Twila Reid.
Questions were answered regarding the department’s full ranger staffing capacity, vehicle advisement protocols, and procedures for reporting alcohol use in parks.
a) Recreation, Human & Neighborhood Services Activity Report – June/July: Kimberely Keleman presented the report, highlighting a variety of summer events including the 30th Annual Flag Day Celebration and the 2025 Summer Nights Under the Stars performance series at Pearson Park as well as the Concerts in the Park series which was expanded to include four park locations this year. She also noted the Fourth of July Celebration which featured a variety of activities including a 5K/10K Run & Walk, Yankee Doodle Dog Show, food vendors, live music and entertainment, and a closing fireworks show. Kimberely concluded by sharing Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes
August 27, 2025
updates on the Older Adult Program, which continues to offer popular fitness classes and arts & crafts activities.
b) Parks Capital Project Progress Report: Ana Straabe presented the report, beginning with an update on the Boysen Park Refresh project. She noted that the first phase, which includes the new skate park, is nearing the plan check stage. The project is scheduled to go out to bid in early 2026, with construction anticipated to begin in summer 2026. Ana also provided an update on the master plan for the second phase, covering approximately 4.5 acres in the northeast corner of the park. She then highlighted upcoming grant funding opportunities for the La Palma Park Improvement Project and shared details on the Maxwell KABOOM! project scheduled for September 4, which already has 133 volunteers registered. Ana encouraged Commissioners to attend and help spread the word.
Questions were answered regarding the La Palma Improvement master plan, the Boysen Refresh master plan, and the completion timeline for the OC Riverwalk elements in relation to the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Commissioner Sigala expressed his gratitude to staff for their continued efforts to secure grant funding for City projects.
7. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: JJ Jimenez introduced the informational item which was agendized at Vice Chair Martin’s request in response to community interest in the City’s pickleball courts. He then presented an overview of the existing pickleball courts within Anaheim parks. Kimberely Kelemen followed with a summary of the department’s indoor facilities and programs that feature pickleball, and JJ concluded with an update on upcoming expansion projects.
Commissioner Clark shared constituent feedback expressing support for keeping the Pearson Park tennis courts as tennis courts with a pickleball overlay, rather than replacing any of the existing courts. Commissioner Couture shared his input on the popularity of the Twila Reid pickleball courts.
Questions were answered regarding the difference in cost between creating a pickleball overlay versus building a court from vacant space, the community input process for designing master plans, and the typical timeframe between the design of the master plan and the construction of the project.
Commissioner Couture commented on the excitement that his constituents expressed upon seeing the Maxwell KABOOM! signage at the park.
JJ Jimenez provided an update on recent improvements at the Olive Hills tennis courts as well as upcoming enhancements.
Sjany-Larson Cash announced the upcoming Girls in Government Day at the TGR Learning Lab and encouraged commissioners to share the event with their constituents.
8. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Clark adjourned the meeting at 7:00 p.m.