Another Casualty of Tough Budget Times: Jump House Parties in City Parks

UPDATE: Walnut Creek Parks, Recreation and Open Space commissioners voted to ban inflatable bounce houses from all city parks, saying the city could no longer afford the cost involved in processing the required permits, especially in these tough budget times. 

Over the past year, the city has cut in half the number of staff involved in issuing the permits, which have amounted to 40 in the past two years. City staff said the jump houses also cause wear and tear on the turf below. 

"I am torn, but I am also looking at the reality, which is we have had a 50 percent reduction in staff," said Commissioner Carla Ludwig, according to the Contra Costa Times. "And there is a significant amount of staff time investment for this."

ORIGINAL STORY: Your little princess was looking forward to inviting all her friends to the neighborhood park for a birthday party centered around a jump house fashioned to look like a magic castle.  

It looks like she won't be getting her birthday wish, not unless you inflate the castle in your own back yard. 

The city's Parks, Recreation and Open Space division is asking commissioners to consider a ban on private jump houses in city parks. The city no longer has enough staff to process the $40 permits, since layoffs over the summer. 

Over the past two years, the city has issued 40 permits, generating $1,700 in revenue. 

The jump houses also cause wear and tear to the turf beneath them, and other park users looking for some peace and quiet have complained about the noise coming from the jump houses' gas-powered generators. 

Walnut Creek would be following similar jump-house bans in Danville and Pleasanton. This prohibition would not apply to jump houses set up in parking lots for larger, communitywide events such as the Walnut and Art and Wine festivals. 

The city Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission will consider this ban at its meeting Monday at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 1666 N. Main St.