San Gabriel City Council Considers Revised Park Hours, Hears Concerns Over AI Data Center

Smith Park in San Gabriel (Photo – sangabrielcity.com)

San Gabriel City Council members discussed a revised ordinance amending park hours, a resolution regulating specific park activities, and concerns about a proposed AI data center in Monterey Park during public comment on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

By Zamourad Iqbal

Community Services Director Rebecca Perez presented the revised ordinance on park hours to the City Council. According to the ordinance Perez first presented in December 2025, the primary goals are to accommodate public demand for park opening times while addressing neighborhood residents’ concerns about noise disturbances.

Under the revised ordinance and accompanying resolution, the updated hours will apply to Smith Park, Lugo Park and Roosevelt Park. The changes would prohibit activities such as pickleball, tennis, basketball, soccer, handball and playground use before 7 a.m., as these activities may disturb neighboring residents.

“The amendment that I’m proposing tonight, based on the addition of making sure that Roosevelt is covered as well, is on page seven of your packet, so that’s Resolution No. 2602,” Perez said. “Where it indicates in Section One, active recreation uses including pickleball, tennis, basketball, soccer and handball, we would also add playgrounds in that component, in that section.”

According to the resolution, pickleball hours will remain unchanged.

Hours for Marshall Park will also remain unchanged, from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, due to its gated facility and the operational requirements involved in unlocking and securing the gates.

Perez also noted in her presentation that staff is working with the police department to assess lighting needs in city parks.

During public comment, Monterey Park resident Randye Kay raised environmental concerns about a proposed AI data center in Monterey Park and urged the City of San Gabriel to collaborate with neighboring cities to address the issue.

“I’m here to talk about the proposed AI data center in Monterey Park. I was also recently informed that the same company purchased an additional parcel of land across the street,” Kay said. “I am not paid. I don’t belong to any political organizations. The cities of the San Gabriel Valley are sister cities, and we need to work together for the benefit of all of us. If we have another fire like the Eaton fire, will we have enough water with which to fight it, should this data center be built?”

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 6:00 pm.