Chapter XIII · Public Property

Article 1. Recreation System

Sections 13-101 to 13-118 · 18 sections

13-101 Recreation System Established.

There is hereby established in and for the City a supervised system of recreation.

(Code 1970, 181)

13-102 Reserved.

(Code 1970, 182; Code 2014)

13-103 Overnight Camping in City Parks Prohibited.

(a)Definitions

(1)Overnight camping: Utilizing the premises for the purpose of sleeping or remaining therein through the nighttime, by use of tents, campers, mobile homes, mobile trailers, sleeping bags, or other apparatus commonly used for sleeping purposes.

(2)Nighttime: One hour after sunset until one hour before sunrise.

(b)Except with permission from the City, it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to enter and/or remain in the City parks for the purpose of overnight camping.

(Code 1970, 183; Code 2014)

13-104 City Laws Extended to Park.

The laws of the City shall extend to and cover all City parks.

(Code 1989)

13-105 Police Jurisdiction Over Parks.

The City shall have police regulations governing any public parks belonging to the City and the Chief of Police and Law Enforcement Officers of the City shall have full power to enforce City laws governing City parks and shall maintain order therein.

(Code 1989)

13-106 Damaging Park Property.

It shall be unlawful for any person, except duly authorized City employees, to willfully or purposely remove, tarnish, damage, deface or destroy any building, walk, trail, bench, tree or improvement or property of any kind belonging to any park owned by the City.

(Code 1989; Code 2014)

13-107 Dangerous Weapons Not Allowed.

(a)Except as provided in Subsection (b), it shall be unlawful for any person to carry or have in his or her possession any firearm or dangerous weapon or to shoot or discharge the same within the limits of any City parks.

(b)The provisions of Subsection (a) above shall not apply to duly authorized Law Enforcement Officers in the performance of official duty.

(Code 1989)

13-108 Vehicle Regulations.

(a)Motor vehicles, including any vehicle licensed to operate on public streets, roads and highways and motorbikes, gocarts, snowmobiles and other motorized offtheroad vehicles shall be operated in a safe and prudent manner at all times in park areas.

(b)Except as provided in Subsection (d), it shall be unlawful for any person to park any motor vehicle in any area not designated for such purpose.

(c)Except as provided in Subsection (d), it shall be unlawful for any person to operate any motor vehicle within any City park except upon roads, drives and parking areas established by the City.

(d)Subsections (b) and (c) above shall not apply to authorized City employees while engaged in the maintenance and care of the park.

(e)It shall be unlawful to operate any such vehicle in any park area at a speed in excess of 20 m.p.h. or as signed.

(Code 1989)

13-109 Hunting.

It shall be unlawful for any person to pursue, catch, trap, maim, kill, shoot or take any wildlife, either bird or animal, in any manner at any time while in any City park.

(Code 1989)

13-110 Fires.

It shall be unlawful for any person to build or kindle any fire in any City park except in the grills provided for that purpose by the City, and such fire must be extinguished by the person, persons or parties starting such fire, immediately after use.

(Code 1989; Code 2014)

13-111 Reserved.

(Code 1989; Code 2014)

13-112 Sanitation.

All waste material, paper, trash, rubbish, tin cans, bottles, containers, garbage and refuse of any kind whatsoever shall be deposited in disposal containers provided for such purposes. No such waste or contaminating material shall be discarded otherwise. No sticks, stones, trash or other objects shall be thrown or discarded in or on any park lands, fountains, pools, drinking fountains, sanitary facilities, or other improvements. No dead animals, fish, animal parts, or fish parts shall be left or put in park trash containers.

(Code 1989; Code 2014)

13-113 Prohibition Against Alcoholic Beverages and Cereal Malt Beverages.

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to use, consume or have on the premises of any park or other City property within the City any alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage except as provided in Chapter III, Beverages, Article 1, General Provisions, Sections 3104 and 3105.

(Code 1989, Ord. 2311)

13-114 Preservation of Natural State.

It shall be unlawful for any person, except duly authorized City employees, to take, damage, remove or disturb any live or dead tree, plant, shrub, flower, mulch, soil, rock, stone, or otherwise interfere with the natural state of City parks.

(Code 1989; Code 2014)

13-115 General Regulations.

The City may post such rules and regulations, as are approved by the Governing Body, pertaining to the use of the City parks in a conspicuous place in each City park. Violations of these posted rules shall constitute a violation of this code.

(Code 1989)

13-116 Use of Parks.

All City parks will be closed during hours of darkness, except as outlined in Subsection (a).

(a)Exceptions. The following exceptional cases will not be considered a violation of this Section:

(1) City organized or City sponsored events that may run past the closing hour.

(2) Events that have received permission from the Parks and Recreation Director or his designee in writing.

(b)Enforcement. The members of the Police Department are granted authority to enforce this Section and may place temporary road barricades, gates, and signs, and may also issue notices to appear in Court for violations of this Section.

(c)Penalties. Being present in any City park at a prohibited time shall be a violation of this code. Any person, corporation, or other entity violating this Section shall be fined not more than $200.00. Each separate violation of this Section shall constitute a separate offense.

(Code 2002)

13-117 Smoke Free Parks and Trails, Designated Smoke Areas and Penalty for Violation.

(a)All City Parks, Park Properties and Asphalt Walking Trails and within twenty feet of each side of the Trail or to the edge of private property shall be smoke free except those designated to have Smoke Areas provided in (b) below.

(b)Designated Smoke Areas. Designated smoke areas shall be constructed, signed and a cigarette urn as provided below:

(1)Community Center, 200 East Third Corner of Third and Maple and Court Yard area in the rear.

(2)Kerry Roberts Park, 801 South 130 Street Current concrete pad space near the parking lot.

(3)Lion’s Park, 300 West Morse Area by Field NO.3 Maintenance Gate and the South Side of the Dumpster by Field No.1.

(4)North Park, 1200 South 134 Street Northwest Corner of the Soccer Field Parking Lot and the North Side of the Dumpsters at the Aquatic Park.

(5)North Park Lake, 1200 South 134 Street to within twenty feet of the shoreline.

(6)South Park, 246 Shadyside Area between the Shelter House Parking and the Drainage Ditch.

(c)Penalty. The penalty for violation of this Section shall be a $10 fine plus court costs.

(Ord. 2364; Code 2014)

13-118 Penalty, General.

Unless otherwise stated in this Chapter, the penalty for all violations shall be per Section 1116.

(Code 2014)