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One of Garland’s most popular parks will be closed this Fourth of July.

The city passed an amendment on June 19 that gave it the power to close Windsurf Bay Park on Lake Ray Hubbard. The language of the amendment specifically gives it the power to close a park for “emergencies or overcrowding.”

The city said that the park can’t handle large crowds—which it says makes emergency service’s jobs harder. Another issue is parking. Residents of the surrounding neighborhoods didn’t like park visitors using their streets as overflow parking.

The amendment only applies to July 4. It had been proposed to close the park on Labor Day, but that plan never came to fruition.

“This ordinance is sort of a punt,” city attorney Brad Neighbors said during the meeting. “It’s not as broad as the one that was put into the agenda for your consideration, but it doesn’t contemplate any future closings.”

In addition, the city will erect a temporary fence to keep people out of the park on July 4.


The amendment passed the city council by an 8-1 margin.