Jacksonville Parks and Recreation officials have started to  hire staff to replace vacant employee positions that they say caused a reduction  in hours at two seaside parks.

After being criticized by beachgoers for closing Hanna and Huguenot  Memorial parks at 6 p.m. each day, city recreation officials say they will  return to keeping the parks open until 8 p.m. in about a week.

Every year, Hanna Park off Mayport Road and Huguenot Memorial  Park off Heckscher Drive change their closing times from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. after  the switch from Eastern Standard Time to Daylight Saving Time in order to take  advantage of additional daylight. That didn't happen this year.