Effective Immediately: In-water lake activities, such as swimming and kayaking, are not permitted at this time. (Please note: Fishing from the banks is still allowed!)

 We know this is disappointing news, especially as the weather begins to warm up, but the City Council has decided to temporarily suspend access for these water activities.

 Why is this happening?

• Safety & Staffing: Currently, we do not have the necessary staffing to monitor the lake every day, particularly during busy weekends. Your safety is our top priority, and we cannot safely permit swimming and kayaking without proper oversight.
• System-Wide Evaluation: The City Council is currently reevaluating our entire park system to better understand operational costs, resource allocation, and long-term sustainability.

What’s Next? City leadership will be holding a retreat — a two-day work session to be held locally at the City Center — at the end of April to fully evaluate the park system and discuss these costs and staffing realities. 

Once decisions are made during this retreat, we will communicate the next steps and future plans for Sterling Creek Park directly with you.

 We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to keep our parks safe, well-staffed, and financially sustainable for our community.