Park Rules and Regulations: Chapter II – Regulatory
Section 1 – Hours
a. Each park shall be open to the public from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset every day except that at specified times, selected areas shall remain open for evening programs and activities authorized by a park permit. The Director or his or her designee shall be authorized to close a park or any part thereof if it is determined that public safety or other emergency requires such closing, or if the closing is determined to be in the best interest of the Park District.
b. No person shall enter into or remain in an area of a park at a time when such area is not open to the public.
Section 2 – Facilities
No person shall use park facilities other than for the purposes designated by the Park District. The Director may, from time to time, establish supplemental guidelines based on the intended use and classification of each facility in a park and for obtaining permits pursuant to these regulations. Such guidelines shall be based on a due regard for the purpose for which the facility is established; the safety of those using the facility, including park employees and the public; the safety and maintenance of Park District property; the need for and the availability of supervisory personnel; and the maximum number of people who can safely use the facility at one time. The Director shall maintain use policies for Park District facilities including, but not limited to, dog parks, spraygrounds, group shelters, skate parks, athletic fields, courts, ranges, and indoor facilities.
Section 3 – Park Use Permits
a. To assure good order and the reasonable use of the area and facilities for which a permit is granted, the Park District may grant a permit on an exclusive basis for a particular place and time. Subject to the foregoing, and except as hereinafter provided, all Park District facilities may be used by members of the general public, without permit, for recreational purposes not inconsistent with the Park District Rules and Regulations, the nature of the facility, and the safety of the public and of Park District property.
b. Notice of denial of an application for permit shall clearly set forth the grounds upon which the permit was denied and, where feasible, shall contain a proposal by the Park District for measures by which the applicant may timely cure any defects in the application for permit or otherwise procure a permit. Where an application or permit has been denied because a fully executed prior application for the same time and place has been received, and a permit has been or will be granted to the prior applicant authorizing uses or activities which do not reasonably permit multiple occupancy of the particular area, the Park District shall propose an alternative place, if available for the same time, or an alternative time, if available for the same place.
c. To the extent permitted by law, the Park District may deny an application for permit if the applicant or the person on whose behalf the application for permit was made has on prior occasions made material misrepresentations regarding the nature or scope of an event or activity previously permitted or has violated the terms of prior permits issued to or on behalf of the applicant. The Park District may also deny an application for permit on any of the following grounds:
(1) The application for permit (including any required attachments and submissions) is not fully completed and executed;
(2) The applicant has not tendered the required user fee, indemnification agreement, insurance certificate, or security deposit within the times prescribed by the Park District;
(3) The application for permit contains a material falsehood or misrepresentation;
(4) The applicant is legally incompetent to contract or to sue and be sued;
(5) The applicant or the person on whose behalf the application for permit was made has on prior occasions damaged Park District property and has not paid in full for such damage, or has other outstanding and unpaid debts to the Park District;
(6) A fully executed prior application for permit for the same time and place has been received, and a permit has been or will be granted to a prior applicant authorizing uses or activities which do not reasonably permit multiple occupancy of the particular park or part hereof;
(7) The use or activity intended by the applicant would conflict with previously planned programs organized and conducted by the Park District and previously scheduled for the same time and place;
(8) The use or activity intended by the applicant would present an unreasonable danger to the health or safety of the applicant, or other users of the park, of Park District employees or of the public;
(9) The use or activity intended by the applicant is prohibited by law, by these rules and regulations of the Park District, or by the regulations of the Director; or
(10) Due to excessive light, noise, odor, traffic or other impacts not confined to the Park District facility, the use or activity intended by the applicant would cause unreasonable disturbance or disruption to neighbors of the Park District facility.
d. Any amendment or revision of an application or permit shall, for purposes of determining the priority of the application for permit, relate back to the original filing thereof; but the time in which the Park District shall grant or deny the application for permit and serve notice of such granting or denial shall be computed from the date of the amendment or revision.
Section 4 – Individual and Group Use
No person shall, without a permit:
a. Conduct, sponsor or promote any meeting, speech, picnic or other public activity involving more than 100 individuals;
b. Conduct any exhibit, music or dramatic performance, wedding, fair, circus, concert, festival, parade, play, radio or television broadcast, other than a news transmission;
c. Exhibit or display any motion picture, television program, light or laser light display, or similar event; or film a media broadcast (other than a news transmission) or motion picture;
d. Station or erect any building, tent, play equipment, mechanical ride, canopy, stand, bandstand, stage, tower, scaffold, sound stage, platform, rostrum or other structure (except beach umbrellas and similar items to provide personal shade);
e. Station or use any electrical or electronic device or equipment that would require outdoor auxiliary power, such as a generator;
f. Bring, land or cause to ascend or descend or alight within the Park District property, any airplane, helicopter, flying machine, hot air balloon, parachute or other apparatus for aviation, except that battery powered radio controlled models are permitted as per Section 12;
g. Conduct any sporting event (i.e., a pre-arranged activity involving organized teams or clubs, spectators or the like). Casual pick-up style games do not require a permit;
h. Conduct a religious or political event (i.e., a pre-arranged activity, ceremony, speech, parade, rally or the like);
i. Circulate or distribute any leaflets, handbills, notices, pamphlets, surveys, books, documents or papers of any kind.
Section 5 – Fires
a. No person shall start or maintain a fire in a park except in a Park District provided charcoal grill or designated campfire circle, or privately owned charcoal or gas fired grill.
b. No person shall start or maintain a fire in an area designated for campfires without a permit issued by the Park District.
c. All fires shall be put out by the person, or persons starting or using the same before leaving the immediate vicinity of the fire.
d. No evidence of a fire shall be permitted to remain in any park except in a permitted grill, area designated for campfires, or container designated for such use.
e. No person shall carry in firewood to a park to avoid possible introduction of destructive insects.
f. No person shall collect wood found in a park without a firewood collection permit issued by the Park District.
g. No person shall burn wood found in a park , except for wood provided by the Park District and burned in a designated area.
h. The dumping of hot ashes or fire from portable picnic grills onto the grass, plants, trash cans or waterways is prohibited.
i. The Director may prohibit or restrict fires for limited periods at any location or for any purpose when necessary for the protection of park property.
Section 6 – Horses
a. No person shall ride or allow a horse in a park without a permit issued by the Park District.
b. If a permit has been issued for horseback riding, no person shall ride or permit a horse in a park in such a manner as to endanger the rider, the horse or any other person or any property.
Section 7 – Vehicles
a. Driving Restrictions. No person shall operate any motor vehicle in any area of a park other than an established roadway or parking area, or in areas temporarily designated for this use. Only power driven devices used for a mobility issue or non-motorized vehicles (bicycles, scooters, skates, skateboards, strollers, wagons, etc.) are permitted on paved pathways and multi-use trails. Refer to section h. and i.
b. Reckless Operation. No person shall operate any type of vehicle along or over any road or drive within or adjacent to a park in a reckless manner or without due regard for the safety and the rights of pedestrians and occupants of all other vehicles.
c. Speed. No person shall operate a vehicle in a park at a greater speed than will permit him or her to bring it to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead, but in no event at a greater speed than the posted speed limit.
d. Parking. Except in an emergency, no person shall park any motor vehicle, bicycle, or other vehicle
(1) within any traveled roadway within a park or any location where posted signs prohibit parking, or
(2) upon any sod, gravel or other surface not specifically designated as a parking area.
e. After Hours Parking. No person shall park or leave a vehicle in an area of a park at a time when such area is not open to the public except by permit issued by the Park District.
f. Accessible Parking. No person shall stop, stand, or park any motor vehicle at designated ADA accessible locations unless the vehicle is being operated by or for the transport of a person with a disability as outlined in Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 4511.69.
g. Night Operation. No person shall drive or take any vehicle within a park at night unless head and tail lights are lighted.
h. Bicycles. No person in a park shall operate a bicycle except on paved roads, or, on paved mulit-use trails. Law Enforcement Officers are permitted on natural surface trails in the execution of their office.
i. Electric Micromobility Devices. No person shall operate electric micromobility devices including, but not limited to, electric bicycles, electric scooters or skateboards, self-balancing devices, or similar equipment in the parks, unless all of the following criteria are met:
(1) Speed – all operation must be kept within a reasonable speed as to not interfere, or endanger, the operator or other park patrons
(2) Noise – no internal combustion motors are allowed
(3) Mass – all electric equipment operated must stay under a maximum weight of 100 pounds without the operator.
These requirements are subject to change as equipment standards are set and technology advances for said equipment. These requirements are not limited to ADA devices.
j. Passing on Trails. Any person passing another person traveling in the same direction along a multi-use path shall announce their intention before passing. No person shall pass another path user in a manner that endangers the life, limb or property of any person while in the lawful use of roads, trails, or paths or causes inconvenience or alarms him or herself or other trail or park users.
Section 8 – Water Areas
a. No person shall fish in park waters in violation of any sign or signs prohibiting fishing.
b. No person shall fish in park waters in a manner, or at a time, prohibited by Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 1533 as now in effect or as hereafter amended. The use of traps, spears or gigs, or bows and arrows for fishing, or leaving hooks unattended is prohibited.
c. All fishing in park waters shall be catch and release only, except during Park District supervised events where permission has been granted.
d. No person shall swim in or ice skate on park waters in the parks.
e. No person shall operate, float or attempt to float a canoe, kayak, rubber craft, sailboat, rowboat, motorboat, or other passenger watercraft of any kind in park waters except with a permit issued by the Park District.
Section 9 – Camping
No person shall camp in any park except with a permit issued by the Park District.
Section 10 – Golfing
No person shall play or practice golf in any park except with a permit issued by the Park District.
Section 11 – Pets
No person shall bring, permit, have or keep in the park any dog, cat, household pet or other animal destructive to birds and other wildlife, except that domesticated animals are permitted if they are controlled at all times on a visible leash not more than eight feet long or service animals or dogs within approved off-leash dog exercise area. No pets or animals shall be allowed to become obnoxious or disturbing to the other users of park facilities. The owner of such a pet or animal shall be responsible at all times for the observance of this regulation whether or not the pet or animal is under the control of the owner or another. Pets are not permitted in the park area in which there is play equipment, sprayground, or skate park, or inside fenced baseball diamonds or tennis courts. Owners are responsible for picking up their pet’s waste and depositing in a waste receptacle.
Section 12 – Remote-Controlled Drones, Planes and other Toys and Devices
The use of battery-powered radio-controlled (RC) devices is permitted only when their use does not compromise the safety of or interfere with activities of other visitors to the park. Operation of RC models must comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules. No person shall operate any type of combustible engine powered model airplane, drone, rocket, boat, ship, car, truck or other device within any area of a park without a permit issued by the Park District.
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