The Beverly Hills Recreation and Parks Commission meeting on Dec. 16 marked the commission’s final meeting of the year. Members discussed several key topics, such as the increased use of electric bicycles (e-bikes) in the city and the success of recent community events like Yappy Hour and Holidays at Greystone. The commission also discussed updates on the Arnaz Mini Park playground renovation and plans for the pickleball courts. Upcoming events and leadership transitions were highlighted, with Chair Amie Sherry’s dedication to the commission celebrated.
Lieutenant Renato Moreno from the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) presented the commission with information on the increased use of electric bicycles in the city. Under the California Vehicle Code, e-bikes must have pedals and a motor below 750 watts. Moreno described e-bikes as more akin to motorcycles than bicycles, citing the growing importance of parental education on how powerful some of the e-bikes they may buy their children really are. Some have the potential to reach speeds over 50 miles per hour. Officer Joel Givens, a 20-year veteran of the BHPD, is a subject matter expert in the traffic bureau who deals with stopping individuals committing traffic violations, often on electric bicycles and motorcycles. He presented the commission with a detailed presentation on the different classes of e-bikes, the applicable laws and regulations, and his enforcement experiences dealing with the unsafe operation of these vehicles.
“People see us pulling over a 10-year-old for not wearing a helmet. That kind of looks like we’re not being fair, and just taking the fun away from things, when in fact we’re just trying to keep them safe,” Givens said, reiterating the BHPD’s ultimate goal of protecting residents, especially children, from the potential dangers of e-bikes.
Givens confirmed that a safety program is in the works with the school district and community relations that will allow parents and children to learn more about proper e-bike safety before obtaining a permit to park bikes at school. California law stipulates all e-bikes must follow the same rules as conventional bicycles, including helmet usage for riders 17 and under and restrictions such as not riding on sidewalks.
On Dec. 18, the BHPD announced more details of this safety program in a press release. Titled the ‘E-vehicle Permit Program,’ this collaborative initiative between the BHPD and BHUSD will mean students and parents now need to sign an agreement form acknowledging the laws and rules of both the California Vehicle Code and BHUSD in order to park on campus.
Reflecting on the success of various events held over 2024, the commission heard details about the second Yappy Hour event held at the Beverly Hills Community Dog Park on Dec. 8. The event featured the return of Santa Paws, who was played by the Community Services Director Stephanie Harris. The Amanda Foundation brought eight dogs available for adoption to the event and took donations of used towels and linens. There were various photo op stations set up too, including a winter wonderland and a Hanukkah photo op. A resounding success that the community responded well to, the event resulted in eight new dog park registrations and over 50 photos were taken. Commissioners discussed the potential for future Yappy Hour events, such as a Valentine’s Day-themed event for single dog owners.
In addition to celebrating the successes of 2024, the meeting also featured updates on the commission’s plans for the year ahead. Recreation Supervisor Nicole Sims provided a detailed overview on plans for Summer Camp 2025, which will run from June 2–July 25. Registration will open on March 26 for residents and April 2 for non-residents. New additions to the next summer camp include a theatre camp, an entrepreneurial, “Shark Tank” style camp and an introduction to pickleball. Teen camp offerings will be expanded too, to include a sports-focused camp alongside the traditional teen camp. Further suggestions were made by the commission for improvements to the teen camp, such as resume-building workshops, more field trips and an e-bike safety camp with a police officer to educate teenagers.
A pressing matter of discussion was the Arnaz Mini Park playground. The playground is a small, 450-square-foot area that was last renovated in 2008. The existing fire truck play equipment has reached the end of its usable life. Consequently, the city’s landscape architect presented the commission with a conceptual plan for the new playground redesign. It would feature a set of cubes that can be climbed on and between, providing interpretive play options as well as sensory components and perforated metal butterflies. Commissioners suggested the city explore additional play elements, climbing features, and ways to incorporate more interactive and tactile components. The estimated cost for the new playground is between $150,000-$260,000.
An update was also provided on the pickleball court project. The commission had previously recommended having 16 dedicated pickleball courts and maintaining 16 tennis courts at La Cienega Park, at a repainting cost of around $10,000 per court. This recommendation is still in the process of being finalized and presented to the City Council liaisons. Sherry addressed resident concerns about potential noise issues, confirming that she is exploring the use of “ghost balls,” which are supposed to be a quieter pickleball option.
The Dec. 16 special commission meeting concluded with various words of gratitude for Sherry’s dedication and leadership over the past year. A public comment by Human Relations Commissioner Noelle Freeman read, “Amie exemplifies selflessness and leadership by example. We are truly fortunate to have you in a place of service, and we look forward to seeing the continued positive impact of your efforts.”
Sherry ended the meeting with a nod to her time serving as chair as well as what’s to come in 2025. “I’ve been lucky to serve on this commission for almost six years, and this has been my second round as chair, which has been so fulfilling. I will continue to be a participant in this community and do whatever I can for things that I feel are important. I know [Vice Chair] Deborah Termeie will take the reins beautifully, as well as [Commissioner] JR Dzubak,” Sherry said.
