Chapter 19.20
PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

Sections:

19.20.010    Definitions.

19.20.020    General rules.

19.20.030    Park closure.

19.20.040    Park use agreements.

19.20.050    Campground host program.

19.20.060    Regulations.

19.20.070    Remedies and penalties.

19.20.010 Definitions.

In this chapter:

“Camp” means using an outdoor area or motor vehicle for sleeping or temporary living quarters, including without limitation erecting a tent or other temporary shelter.

“Park” means an area designated as a park, reservation, playground, beach, or recreation area, owned or managed by the City and devoted to active or passive recreation. [Ord. 12-24(A) § 2, 2012].

19.20.020 General rules.

The following general rules govern the public use of parks:

a. No person may deface, disfigure, damage, tamper with, or displace or remove any building, structure, table, bench, fireplace, sign, notice, vegetation, or placard in a park.

b. No person may cut, pick or damage trees, flowers or other vegetation in a park.

c. No person may camp in a park except in an area and at a time designated for that purpose by the City Manager.

d. No person may light, build, use or maintain an open fire or portable camp stove in a park except in a receptacle or area designated for that use. No person may leave an open fire or operating portable camp stove unattended. No person may use a flammable liquid other than charcoal lighting fluid to start or accelerate a fire.

e. No person may operate, or stop, stand or park, a motorized vehicle in a park except:

1. In an area designed for the use, and in a manner permitted by the designation; or

2. Construction, enforcement, maintenance or emergency vehicles operated by the State, the Kenai Peninsula Borough, the City or their respective contractors.

f. Where the operation of motor vehicles is permitted in a park, motor vehicles shall be operated in accordance with posted speed limits, in a prudent and safe manner, and at a speed not exceeding 10 miles per hour in parking areas.

g. Dogs may not be physically unrestrained or at large within City parks. A person having control or supervision of an animal that excretes feces in a park shall immediately collect and properly dispose of the feces.

h. Dogs may be restricted from sensitive habitat areas by signage posted by the City.

i. No person may dump, deposit, or leave any bottles, broken glass, ashes, paper, boxes, cans, dirt, rubbish, waste, garbage or refuse, or other trash, or water, sewage or effluent from sinks, portable toilets or other plumbing fixtures, directly upon the surface of land or water in a park.

j. Dumpsters provided at park facilities are intended for park use only.

k. No person may launch, load or retrieve a motorized watercraft from City-owned beaches except for official business use or with Harbormaster approval. [Ord. 22-72(S-2) § 2, 2023; Ord. 21-23 § 1, 2021; Ord. 12-24(A) § 2, 2012].

19.20.030 Park closure.

a. The City Manager may designate times during which a park is closed to the public.

b. The City Manager shall notify the public of times during which a park is closed to the public by the placement of signs at entrances to the park or within the closed area. No person may enter or remain in a park during the hours of closure designated on such a sign. [Ord. 12-24(A) § 2, 2012].

19.20.040 Park use agreements.

The Council by resolution may authorize an agreement between the City and an organization providing for the organization’s use, operation and maintenance of facilities within a park. The agreement will address such issues as scheduling, litter, sanitary facilities, damage, crowd control, traffic control, noise, insurance and public notice. [Ord. 12-24(A) § 2, 2012].

19.20.050 Campground host program.

The Council by resolution may authorize the City Manager to establish a campground host program for designated City parks, under which volunteers will provide campground host services to park users. [Ord. 12-24(A) § 2, 2012].

19.20.060 Regulations.

The City Manager is authorized to promulgate regulations, in addition to the rules stated in this chapter, to regulate the use of park and recreational facilities. [Ord. 12-24(A) § 2, 2012].

19.20.070 Remedies and penalties.

The penalty for an offense in this chapter is the fine listed in the fine schedule in HCC 1.16.040. If no fine is listed for the offense in HCC 1.16.040, then the defendant must appear in court and, if convicted, is subject to the general penalty as provided in HCC 1.16.010 unless another penalty is specifically provided. [Ord. 18-11 § 19, 2018; Ord. 12-24(A) § 2, 2012].