Chapter 12 · Public Property

Article 1. City Parks

Sections 12-101 to 12-113 · 13 sections

12-101 Hours.

All public parks shall be closed to the public between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. daily. No person, other than law enforcement officers and authorized city personnel, shall enter or remain in city parks except as provided by this article.

(Code 2005, 5-600s; Code 2020)

12-102 Written approval.

With written approval of both the police chief and the public works director, organized recreation activities or other special events may be held in public parks after closing. Such written approval shall be discretionary with the police chief and public works director. Such written approval shall specify the date, hours, duration and location of such activities.

(Code 2005, 5-600s; Code 2020)

12-103 City ordinances extended to park.

The Ordinances of the city shall extend to and cover all city parks.

(Code 2005, 5-600s; Code 2020)

12-104 Damaging park property.

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

(Code 2005, 5-600s; Code 2020)

12-105 Dangerous weapons.

(a)Except as provided in subsection (b), is shall be unlawful for any person to discharge 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) shall not apply to duly authorized law enforcement officers in the performance of official duty.

(Code 2005, 5-600s; Code 2020)

12-106 Vehicle regulations.

(a)Motor vehicles, including any vehicle licensed to operate on public streets, roads and highways and motor bikes, go-karts, snowmobiles, and other motorized off-the-road 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 in any area not designated for such purpose.

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

(Code 2005, 5-600s; Code 2020)

12-107 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 2005, 5-600s; Code 2020)

12-108 Fires.

It shall be unlawful for any person to build or kindle any fire in any city park except in ovens, stoves, or 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 the use thereof.

(Code 2005, 5-600s; Code 2020)

12-109 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.

(Code 2005, 5-600s; Code 2020)

12-110 Prohibition against alcoholic beverages and cereal malt beverages.

It shall be unlawful for any person to use, consume or have on the premises of any city park or other city property within the city any alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage.

(Code 2005, 5-600s; Code 2020)

12-111 Preservation of natural state.

It shall be unlawful for any person, except duly authorized city employees, to take, injure, or disturb any live or dead tree, plant, shrub, or flower, or otherwise interfere with the natural state of city parks.

(Code 2005, 5-600s; Code 2020)

12-112 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 2005, 5-600s; Code 2020)

12-113 Penalty.

Any person, firm, partnership, or corporation violating any provision of this article, upon conviction, be fined a sum not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00), or be imprisoned for a period of time not to exceed thirty (30) days or be both fined and imprisoned.

(Code 2005, 5-600s; Code 2020)