Families spend time at the playground at Sam Brannan Park in Yuba City on Aug. 16. The park has recently drawn attention amid ongoing discussions over public safety and its future use

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - Sam Brannan Park is expected to temporarily close beginning Sept. 1 as Yuba City officials move to address escalating public safety, drug use and homelessness-related concerns at the city’s largest community park.

The Yuba City City Council considered the closure during a special meeting Aug. 12, with city staff recommending the temporary shutdown along with up to $265,000 for environmental remediation, security improvements and other work at the 8.51-acre park on Gray Avenue.

According to a city staff report, conditions at Sam Brannan Park have deteriorated in recent years, with officials citing the prolonged presence of transients and drug users as a primary contributing factor. City officials said the conditions have affected safety, cleanliness and public perception of the park, leading some families to seek recreational opportunities elsewhere.

The concerns have also generated a significant response from local law enforcement. Between Jan. 1 and May 31, the Yuba City Police Department responded to 139 incidents at or near Sam Brannan Park, according to information included in the staff report. The majority involved traffic stops, security checks, transient-related incidents, illegal camping, suspicious persons, disturbances and narcotics-related activity. Approximately 18 incidents resulted in arrests, while two resulted in formal crime reports.

From January through July, officers also responded to four overdose-related calls at the park, including one that resulted in a death inside a park bathroom. During a focused enforcement operation June 20, the department’s Special Investigations Unit and Homeless Liaison Officer conducted 20 traffic stops and field contacts, made eight arrests, conducted seven searches and issued two citations.

A plaque at Sam Brannan Park in Yuba City honors the park’s namesake and his role in the city’s early history.

Concerns have extended to nearby Gray Avenue Middle School. Information provided by the Yuba City Unified School District cited ongoing illegal drug use and paraphernalia found throughout the park, including needles and pipes. The district also reported that students have encountered people using drugs before and after school and have been exposed to suspected drug transactions, aggressive behavior, fights and other concerning activity.

City parks staff have also reported routinely removing abandoned property, litter, human and animal waste, needles and drug paraphernalia, while responding to vandalism and maintaining park restrooms. The additional work has strained a Parks Maintenance division already reduced by three positions, leaving nine employees responsible for maintaining 17 city parks in addition to other landscaping duties. According to the report, reservations at Sam Brannan Park have declined by approximately 50% as conditions at the park have changed.

As part of the proposed remediation plan, the city intends to install security cameras, electronic gate access and fencing around the park. Preliminary plans included in the council packet show an 8-foot-tall steel security fence with pedestrian and vehicle gates. The estimated project cost is approximately $230,000 to $265,000. A preliminary cost breakdown estimates about $132,000 for fencing, $40,000 for a powered sliding gate, $25,000 for an additional sliding gate along Gray Avenue and $25,000 for lighting repairs and installation, along with cameras, card readers, signage and other equipment.

The temporary closure would apply to the general public, with limited exceptions, and would be reevaluated every 90 days. Before enforcement of the closure begins, the city’s Homeless Outreach Team and local service providers are expected to conduct outreach to individuals at the park, offering resources including shelter options, mental health services, substance abuse counseling and transitional housing placement.

Once remediation work is completed and the park reopens, city staff are proposing greater restrictions on access. General park use would remain reservation-based, while individuals using amenities including the pickleball and bocce ball courts and skate park would be required to obtain an access card through the city’s Recreation Department. City officials said the goal of the closure and improvements is to restore Sam Brannan Park as a safe and welcoming recreational space for residents while addressing conditions that have increasingly strained police, fire and parks resources.