Chapter 17
PARKS AND RECREATION
Articles:
17-1 General Provisions
17-2 Park Operating Policy
17-3 Enforcement
17-4 Spirituous Liquor in Public Parks
Article 17-1 General Provisions
Sections:
17-1-1 Definitions
17-1-2 Damaging or Tampering with Facilities
17-1-3 Trees, Shrubbery and Lawns
17-1-4 Riding Vehicles on Grounds
17-1-5 Bathing and Swimming
17-1-6 Advertising Signs
17-1-7 Glass Containers
17-1-8 Litchfield Park Lake
Section 17-1-1 Definitions
In this chapter unless the context requires otherwise:
A. “Director” means any person immediately in charge of any park area and its activities, and to whom all park attendants of such area are responsible.
B. “Public park” means a park, parkway, trail, reservation, playground, recreation center, recreational area, open space or any other area in the city, owned, used, established, maintained or administered by the city and devoted to active or passive recreation.
C. “Vehicle” means any wheeled conveyance, whether motor powered, animal-drawn or self propelled. The term shall include any trailer in tow of any size, kind or description. This definition does not include baby carriages and vehicles in the service of the city parks.
Section 17-1-2 Damaging or Tampering with Facilities
No person shall damage or improperly use any building, structure, equipment or signs, toilets, or water and sewer facilities in any municipal park, or cause the lighting facilities or electrical appliances to be turned on without the written permission of the director or such other person as the city council may designate.
Section 17-1-3 Trees, Shrubbery and Lawns
A. No person shall damage, cut, carve, transplant or remove any tree or plant or injure the bark, or pick the flowers, fruit or seeds of any tree or plant, nor shall any person attach any rope, wire or other contrivance to any tree or plant without the express written permission of the director.
B. No person shall dig or remove any sand, whether submerged or not, or any soil, rock, stones, trees, shrubs or plants, down, timber or other wood or materials, or make any excavation by tool, equipment, blasting or other means or agency without the express written permission of the director.
Section 17-1-4 Riding Vehicles on Grounds
A. No person shall drive or ride at any time any automobile, truck, motorcycle, motor scooter, horse or other motor vehicle or animal upon the grounds of any municipal park, playground or golf course, except in public streets running through such premises or within designated parking areas located upon the premises, without the express written permission of the director.
B. No person shall leave a bicycle in a place other than a bicycle rack when such is provided and there is a space available.
C. No person shall leave a bicycle lying on the ground or pavement or set against a tree.
Section 17-1-5 Bathing and Swimming
A. No person shall swim, bathe, wade or operate any model boat in any waters or waterways in or adjacent to any park, except in such waters and at such places as are provided therefore, and in compliance with such regulations as are herein set forth or may be hereafter adopted. No person shall frequent any waters or places customarily designated for the purpose of swimming or bathing, or congregate thereat when such activity is prohibited by the director upon a finding that such use of the water would be dangerous or otherwise inadvisable.
B. No person shall frequent any waters or places designated for the purpose of swimming or bathing, or congregate thereat, except between such hours of the day as shall be designated by the director for such purposes for each individual area.
Section 17-1-6 Advertising Signs
No person shall announce, advertise or call the public attention in any way to any article or service for sale or hire, nor shall any person paste, glue, tack or otherwise post any sign placard, advertisement or inscription, or erect or cause to be erected any sign on any public lands or highways or roads adjacent to a park.
Section 17-1-7 Glass Containers
A. It is unlawful for any person to have a glass beverage container in his possession in any public park, as defined in Section 17-1-1, under the jurisdiction of the city.
B. It is unlawful for any person to throw, toss or otherwise propel or either willfully, maliciously, carelessly or negligently break any glass object in a public park under the jurisdiction of the city.
Section 17-1-8 Litchfield Park Lake
A. General. The use of watercraft on the Litchfield Park Lake and fishing in Litchfield Park Lake is permitted in accordance with this section. The Parks and Recreation Department Director is authorized to adopt rules necessary to implement this section.
B. Swimming. Swimming in the Litchfield Park Lake is prohibited.
C. Trash. No trash refuse shall be thrown in the Litchfield Park Lake or left on the shore. All such materials shall be disposed of in a trash receptacle or removed.
D. Watercraft.
1. All watercraft must be registered with the Parks and Recreation Department.
2. Boating is restricted to residents of the City. A maximum of two watercraft per family is permitted.
3. Floats, inner tubes, sailboards, and catamarans are prohibited.
4. No watercraft with internal combustion engines are permitted except those operated by the city.
5. No watercraft longer than eighteen (18) feet shall be permitted. Sailboats shall not exceed fourteen (14) feet.
6. Coast Guard approved life preservers for each crew member and passenger shall be kept on board each boat ready at hand. Children under eight years of age and non-swimmers must wear life preservers while boating.
7. Watercraft owners and operators must maintain personal and public liability insurance covering water and boating hazards.
8. Except for boats operated by the city or boats participating in city approved events, no boats may be operated after dark.
E. Fishing.
1. Persons required to be licensed by the State of Arizona to fish in Arizona must also obtain a city fishing permit from the parks and recreation department. any child under the age of six (6) must be accompanied by a person with a current license and permit. Annual and daily permits are available. All annual fishing permits expire one year from date of issue.
2. Fishing is permitted during daylight hours only.
3. Fees for fishing permits shall be set by resolution of the city council. The city council may set different fees for residents and non-residents of the city.
4. When fishing, permits must be presented for inspection when requested by authorized city personnel.
5. Persons required to be licensed by the State of Arizona to fish in Arizona must also obtain a city fishing permit from the parks and recreation department. Any child under the age of six (6) must be accompanied by a person with a current license and permit. Annual and daily permits are available. All annual fishing permits expire one year from date of issue.
6. Fishing is permitted during daylight hours only.
7. Fees for fishing permits shall be set by resolution of the city council. The city council may set different fees for residents and non-residents of the city.
8. When fishing, permits must be presented for inspection when requested by authorized city personnel.
9. Dead fish, trash and/or litter, including lures, hooks or fishing lines, must be disposed of in a trash receptacle or removed from the premises.
10. Harming waterfowl in any manner or by any means is strictly prohibited. (Ord. 99-47)
Article 17-2 Park Operating Policy
Sections:
17-2-1 Hours
17-2-2 Closed Areas
17-2-3 Emergency Park Closure; Restrictions
Section 17-2-1 Hours
Except for unusual and unforeseen emergencies, parks shall be open to the public every day of the year during designated hours. The opening and closing hours for the parks shall be from six o’clock a.m. until ten o’clock p.m. and shall be posted therein for public information.
Section 17-2-2 Closed Areas
Any section or part of any park may be declared closed to the public by the director at any time and for any interval of time, either temporarily or at regular and stated intervals, daily or other wise and either entirely or merely to certain uses.
Section 17-2-3 Emergency Park Closure; Restrictions
A. The clerk or the chief of police is authorized to direct that any public park, as defined in Section 17-1-1, or any portion thereof, be closed to all persons not properly authorized to be therein, when, in the opinion of either, an emergency situation exists therein that demands for the protection of the public health, safety or morals, that the premises be closed. Such closure shall be for a period not to exceed seven days.
B. It is unlawful for any person not properly authorized to enter into or fail to vacate a public park when adequate notice of emergency closure has been given.
Article 17-3 Enforcement
A. The city shall have authority to eject from the park any person acting in violation of this chapter.
B. The city shall have the authority to seize and confiscate any property, thing device in the park, used in violation of this chapter.
Article 17-4 Spirituous Liquor in Public Parks
A. In this article, unless the context otherwise requires: “spirituous liquor” means alcohol, brandy, whiskey, rum, tequila, mescal, gin, wine, porter, ale, beer, any malt liquor, malt beverage, absinthe or compound or mixture of any of them, or of any of them with any vegetable or other substance, alcohol bitters, bitters containing alcohol, and any liquid mixture or preparation, whether patented or otherwise, which produces intoxication, fruits preserved in ardent spirits and beverages containing more than one-half of one percent of alcohol by volume.
B. It is unlawful for any person to consume or have in his possession any spirituous liquor in a public park under the jurisdiction of the city.
C. Subsection (B) of this article shall not apply to persons who have obtained a permit from city authorizing them to possess or consume spirituous liquors in public parks or are members of a group or organization which has obtained such a permit.
D. The clerk is empowered to issue permits authorizing the consumption and possession of spirituous liquors in public parks and to adopt rules and procedures for the issuance of such permits.