Chapter 12.30
PARK REGULATIONS

Sections:

12.30.010    Park regulations.

12.30.020    Radio-controlled model airplanes prohibited in parks.

12.30.030    Turf protection on public property.

12.30.040    Park hours.

12.30.050    Reservation of park space.

12.30.060    Fish farm established.

12.30.070    Fish farm rules and regulations.

12.30.010 Park regulations.

(a) Purpose and Definition. In order to protect the parks, parkways, recreational facilities and conservancy areas within the village from injury, damage or desecration, these regulations are enacted. The term “park,” as hereinafter used in this chapter, shall include all grounds, structures and watercourses which are or may be located within any area dedicated to the public use as a park, parkway, recreation facility or conservancy district in the village.

(b) Specific Regulations.

(1) Littering Prohibited. No person shall litter, dump or deposit any rubbish, refuse, fecal material, earth or other material in any park.

(2) Sound Devices. No person shall operate or play any amplifying system unless specific authority is first obtained from the village board.

(3) Bill Posting. No person shall post, paste, fasten, paint or attach any placard, bill, notice, sign or advertising matter upon any structure, tree or other natural object in any park, except park regulations and other signs authorized by the village board.

(4) Removal of Park Equipment Prohibited. Except as may from time to time be otherwise authorized by the village board, no person shall remove or relocate benches, seats, tables or other park equipment from or within any park.

(5) Trapping. No person shall set or place any wildlife trap or snare in any park unless specific written authority is first obtained from the village board.

(6) Making of Fires. No person shall start, tend or maintain a fire except in personal grills or designated fireplaces. Personal grills shall be used only in designated picnic areas. The use of personal grills is permitted provided lawns and vegetation are not endangered. Unburned fuel and ashes shall be disposed of in such a manner as to prevent fire or damage to any park property.

(7) Protection of Park Property. No person shall kill, injure or disturb or attempt to injure or disturb waterfowl, birds or animals, wild or domestic, within any park, except as permitted by this chapter. No person shall climb any tree or remove flowers or fruit, wild or cultivated, or break, cut down, trample upon, remove or in any manner injure, deface, write upon or ill use any tree, shrub, flower, flower bed, turf, soil, sand, fountain, ornament, building, structure, apparatus, bench, table, official notice, sign or other property within any park.

(8) Motorized Vehicles. Except for authorized maintenance vehicles, no person shall operate an unlicensed or licensed motorized vehicle outside of areas specifically designated as parking areas or areas where the operation of such vehicles is specifically permitted. Motor vehicles are restricted to the roads and drives and parking areas. No motor vehicles of any nature may be used on the seeded areas except vehicles which have a village board authorization for shows, rides or exhibits and then only for the purpose of loading and unloading.

(9) Snowmobiles. No person shall operate a snowmobile or recreational vehicle in a village park.

(10) Speed Limit. No person shall operate any vehicle in a village park in excess of 15 mph unless otherwise posted.

(11) Glass Beverage Bottles in Parks Prohibited. No person shall bring into, carry onto, or possess while in any public park, glass bottles or glass containers, including those containing or normally used for containing soda water, fermented malt beverages or alcohol.

(12) Reckless Driving in Parks Prohibited. No person shall operate a motor vehicle in a reckless manner in any of the public parks of the village.

(13) Parking in Parks. No person shall park any motor vehicle in any park in the village except in a designated parking area.

(14) Horse and Carriages. No person shall ride a horse or drive a horse-driven vehicle in any park, except on roads or designated bridle paths, except when approval of the village board is first obtained. It shall be unlawful for any person to ride a horse or drive a horse-drawn vehicle in a careless, negligent or reckless manner which may endanger the safety and well-being of others.

(15) Removing Tree Protectors. No person shall remove any device for the protection of trees or shrubs.

(16) Golfing and Sporting Activities. No golfing or practicing golf in village parks or recreation areas shall be allowed except with the use of a whiffle ball. All sporting activities must be held in areas so designated for that purpose.

(17) Fees and Charges. The park committee shall have the authority to establish such fees as deemed necessary for use of any facility, shelter, or land area. It shall be unlawful to use such areas without payment of such fee or charge when required.

(18) Swimming. No person shall bathe or swim within all village parks.

(19) Pets. Pets are defined as animals of any species, and are prohibited in all village parks except West Park, and 999 Pine Road Park, in which dogs only are allowed in these parks. All dogs must be leashed on a leash of six feet or less outside of exercise/fenced area and the owner/handler of the dog is required to pick up and properly dispose of all waste.

(20) Firearms – Hunting. Possessing or discharging of any firearm, or knife with a blade greater than three inches in length, is prohibited in all village parks.

(21) Fish Cleaning. Cleaning of fish in shelters, toilet facilities or picnic areas is prohibited in all village parks.

(22) Camping. Overnight camping is prohibited in all village parks.

(23) Sparklers. The use or possession of fireworks, as defined in Section 167.10, Wis. Stats., as may be amended from time to time, is prohibited in all village parks. [Ord. dated 8/3/21 § 1; Ord. dated 8/7/18 #4 § 1; Res. 04-03. Prior code § 4-5-1].

12.30.020 Radio-controlled model airplanes prohibited in parks.

No person shall fly a radio-controlled model airplane in any park in the village except in areas specifically designated and posted for such purpose. [Prior code § 4-5-2].

12.30.030 Turf protection on public property.

Except as authorized by the village board, no person shall dig into the turf of any village-owned property for any purposes whatsoever, or remove any trees or flowers. Absent authorization by the village board the use of metal detectors and digging for buried objects on village property, except beaches where no vegetation is present, is prohibited. [Prior code § 4-5-3].

12.30.040 Park hours.

(a) Park Hours. Subject to certain exceptions listed below, all village parks shall be closed from dusk to dawn the following day.

(b) Exceptions to Closing Hours. An exception to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be a person driving through a park on a public road; however, stopping shall not be permitted within a park. The village board may modify closing hours for ballgames or particular events.

(c) Park Closing and Opening Dates. The park committee will have full authority to open and close any park, beach, facility, or area because of season, condition, construction or, when in the interest of public safety, it is deemed necessary. [Prior code § 4-5-4].

12.30.050 Reservation of park space.

(a) Shelters or areas may be reserved within any park for the exclusive use of groups, organizations or others on a first-requested, first-reserved basis.

(b) All reservation requests will be made through the park committee.

(c) When fermented malt beverages are to be sold at any event, a valid fermented malt beverage license must be obtained. Said license must be in the name of the person responsible and upon request be presented to any law enforcement officer. Except between November 15th and February 15th, a snow type fence shall provide a barricade around the perimeter of the area where fermented malt beverages are sold.

(d) Any authorized law enforcement officer may revoke any reservation or license when, in the official’s judgment, persons or property on or within the park premises may be endangered by the continuance of the exclusive use.

(e) Persons in charge of any reservation shall be responsible for the conduct of those in attendance which shall include disallowing alcoholic beverages to minors, general safety to those attending and cleanliness of public property under reservation. [Ord. dated 9/4/12 #2. Prior code § 4-5-5].

12.30.060 Fish farm established.

(a) There is hereby established pursuant to Section 29.733, Wis. Stats., a fish farm at the body of water in the village of Arena known as the “West Park Pond” and being located on Pine Road.

(b) The village of Arena shall register said fish farm with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

(c) Said fish farm shall be a recreational fishing pond and shall be maintained and operated by the village in accordance with applicable Wisconsin law and with rules and regulations as hereinafter set forth. [Res. 09-04. Prior code § 4-5-6].

12.30.070 Fish farm rules and regulations.

All rules and regulations shall be posted on signs at the park.

(a) The pond is open beginning the first Saturday in May through October 15th. Limit 10 panfish and one game fish over 14 inches per person per day.

(b) The only live bait allowed are worms and night crawlers; all other live bait is prohibited. Artificial tackle is allowed.

(c) Boating Regulations. No person shall at any time operate any motorboat on the pond. For purposes of this chapter, the term “motorboat” shall mean any boat propelled by any type of gasoline-powered or electric motor or other mechanical/electronic device.

(d) Recreational Equipment. Any small, nonmotorized vehicle or equipment primarily intended for leisure and recreational use, such as, but not limited to, canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards, are allowed on the pond during park hours.

(e) Any person violating any of the foregoing rules and regulations shall be subject to a forfeiture of not less than $25.00 nor more than $1,000 together with applicable costs and assessments as provided by law. [Ord. dated 8/3/21 § 2; Ord. dated 3/6/12 § 28; Res. 09-04. Prior code § 4-5-7].