Pleasant Grove mulls recreation limit

PLEASANT GROVE (AP) — Pleasant Grove may close its recreation programs to people who do not live in the city.

Deon Giles, director of leisure services for the city, said it cannot afford to allow residents from other cities to participate in its recreation programs.

"We are to the point now where we are going to have to start limiting some of our programming," he told a recent meeting of city officials. "It revolves around money."

American Fork officials have said they will no longer allow residents from Cedar Hills, Highland and Alpine into city programs because of exploding participation and expense. The city had nearly 6,000 people participate in its recreation program last year at a cost of $400,000.

That decision will only create more pressure on Pleasant Grove's programs, Giles said.

"We already have big numbers because we have a young community and lots of kids," he said.

Residents are impatient for the city to expand its programs, said Councilman Mark Atwood.

"We get a lot of pressure from people screaming at parades, cartoons in the paper, letters," he said. "People want recreation and services now."

Councilwoman Cindy Boyd said, "I just know all of our ball diamonds are full; our facilities are full. We are brimming over the top as far as what we are providing."