Chapter 13.12
PARKS

Sections:

13.12.010    Purpose.

13.12.020    Definitions.

13.12.030    Hours.

13.12.040    Unlawful acts designated.

13.12.050    Violation—Determination of principal.

13.12.060    Confiscation of dogs.

13.12.070    Violation—Penalty.

13.12.010 Purpose.

This chapter is an exercise of the police power of the city for the purpose of protecting the public health, safety and welfare. (Ord. 539 § 1 (part), 2003)

13.12.020 Definitions.

A.    The terms used in this chapter, unless clearly contrary or inconsistent with the context in which used, shall be construed as follows:

1.    “Park” means and includes all city parks, park drives, war memorial, trailer parks, swimming and wading pools, play and recreation grounds, including the waterfront marina and cemetery, under the jurisdiction of the city of Bridgeport.

B.    Wherever consistent within the context of this chapter, words in the present, past or future tenses shall be construed to be interchangeable with each other and words in the singular tense shall be construed to include the plural. (Ord. 539 § 1 (part), 2003)

13.12.030 Hours.

All city parks shall open at six a.m. and close at ten p.m. (Ord. 539 § 1 (part), 2003)

13.12.040 Unlawful acts designated.

It is unlawful for any person to act or fail to act as follows:

A.    To use, place or erect any signboard, sign, bill board, post, pole or device of any kind for advertising in any park, or to attach any notice, bill, poster, sign, wire, rod or cord to any tree, shrub, railing, post or structure within any park; or, without written consent of the city council to place or erect in any park a structure of any kind, provided that the city council may permit the erection of such structure, and also may permit the erection of temporary directional signs or decorations on occasions of public celebrations and picnics;

B.    To have in the park or to ride any horse or other riding animal;

C.    To ride or drive any bicycle, motorcycle, motor vehicle or any gas-operated vehicle within the park boundaries, unless on designated roads only and at a speed not to exceed ten miles per hour;

D.    For traffic, including all wheeled conveyances, to be in the cemetery at any time, except during funerals or as permitted in writing by the city clerk-treasurer;

E.    To remain in any park after ten p.m., unless it is a designated trailer park or it is an overnight camping park, and the individual remaining in the camping park is a registered overnight guest;

F.    To conduct or participate in any organized assembly of more than fifty persons without the prior written permission of the city council. The permission of the city council may include a requirement that the applicant for such an assembly provide such private security as deemed necessary by the city council, proof of adequate insurance, and comply with any other reasonable requirements of the city council;

G.    To camp in any park, except at places set aside for such purposes as camping and if properly registered;

H.    To build any fire in any park, except in areas designated by the city;

I.    To violate or fail to comply with any park rule duly adopted by resolution of the city council;

J.    To have in the park any dog on any of the following days: Memorial Day weekend; Labor Day weekend; the Fourth of July; the Fourth of July weekend if the Fourth of July falls on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday; any weekend during Bridgeport days; Free Fishing weekend (usually the first weekend in June); Youth Fishing Derby weekend (usually the first weekend in June); and other city festivals and events designated from time to time by resolution of the city council. This subsection shall not apply: to police dogs; to dogs serving blind people; and to dogs owned by registered overnight guests of any city park, provided such dogs are kept within the overnight camping area of any city camping park; or to dogs owned by residents of any city trailer park, provided such dogs are kept within the residential area of any city trailer park;

K.    To swim in the designated swimming area or in the areas posted by the city for “no swimming,” which shall include the protected inlet area, in Marina Park on Free Fishing weekend (usually the first weekend in June) and on Youth Fishing Derby weekend (usually the first weekend in June) and on any other day that may be designated from time to time by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 539 § 1 (part), 2003)

13.12.050 Violation—Determination of principal.

Anyone in violation of this chapter, whether directly committing an act constituting an offense or who aids or abets the same, and whether present or absent, and anyone who directly or indirectly counsels, encourages, hires, commands, induces or otherwise persuades or procures another to commit such offense, is and shall be a principal under the terms of this chapter and shall be proceeded against and prosecuted as such. (Ord. 539 § 1 (part), 2003)

13.12.060 Confiscation of dogs.

The city animal control authority is authorized to confiscate any dog found in the park at a time when dogs are not permitted to remain in the park if the owner of the dog refuses to remove the dog from the park. (Ord. 539 § 1 (part), 2003)

13.12.070 Violation—Penalty.

Any person who violates any provision of this chapter or any park rules adopted by resolution of the city council shall be subject to a civil penalty fine in an amount not to exceed three hundred fifty dollars for each violation. (Ord. 539 § 1 (part), 2003)