SYLMAR : 15 Offer to Maintain, Patrol Veterans Park
About 15 people have volunteered to help the county Department of Parks and Recreation, which is facing budget cuts that threaten to curtail services, to maintain and patrol Veterans Memorial Park in Sylmar.
The volunteers came forward at a meeting Thursday, and will help the county hold down costs by providing patrols, light maintenance of the grounds and even some repair work, said John Weber, the department’s regional director.
On hand for the meeting was Sylmar Chamber of Commerce President Frank Jacobs, who attributed the light turnout to a lack of advance publicity.
Weber explained that county parks will remain open, despite cutbacks of $2.5 million. He said park closures remain a possibility if county voters do not approve a sales-tax extension in November.
Weber plans a meeting to sign up volunteers at El Cariso Park. He said that department officials are exploring the possibility of letting a nonprofit group take over the park’s maintenance.
Jacobs said Weber will speak at a Sylmar Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Sept. 20 at Olive View Hospital, where he will discuss the status of county parks in the area.
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