During an oversight hearing on Tuesday, Guam Department of Parks and Recreation officials outlined a plan to have safe, clean parks and working restroom facilities by entering into agreements with other agencies and outsourcing some maintenance.
The hearing was held as the department prepares for performance-based budgeting.
Parks and Rec Director Angel Sablan told senators the department would like to have more agreements with other agencies to maintain and police the island’s parks, beaches, historical sites and recreation facilities.
Because Park Police only work daytime hours, Sablan suggested an agreement with Guam Visitors Bureau, which has visitor safety officers, for Ypao Beach.
“They cover the rest of the hours so that we can catch the graffiti. We can catch the vandalism. We can catch the beer drinkers and the treasures, and so it's covered for 24 hours a day,” Sablan said.
Likewise, he suggested that groups adopting parks could be required to put more time and effort into the task.
“We would like for our adoptees that are adopting our parks now to put more investments in our parks, instead of just putting their name there and forget us the rest of the year,” he said. “We do have adoptees that once we sign the paper, we never see them again until they come in for renewal.”
He said the department could look at leasing recreation facilities to companies or organizations that would be responsible for operating them.
Sablan also said the department could contract maintenance services to keep bathrooms clean, so that if there is a complaint, someone can be held accountable.
