[Ord. No. 09-0347 §§1
— 2, 9-9-2009; Ord.
No. 10-0102 §1(300.010 — 300.180), 1-4-2010]
A. Trees, Shrubbery, Natural Life And Property. It shall be unlawful
for an individual to injure, damage, alter, or remove any animal,
plant, natural feature or property within any park. Nor shall any
person plant any vegetation, release any wildlife, or build any structure
within any County park without written authorization from the Director.
It shall be unlawful to vandalize or destroy any natural or man-made
structures or to inscribe/affix any printed material to any natural
or man-made structures. This Subsection does not prohibit fishing
as allowed by law; however, it does restrict the introduction of any
fish species to any County-owned waterways, streams, lakes or ponds.
[Ord. No. 18-0472, 11-26-2018]
B. Hunting And Weapons. No person shall pursue, trap or kill any wildlife
in any manner or in any quantity within any County park. The possession
of any weapons shall be in compliance with Chapter 571, RSMo., as
amended, and shall be subject to all applicable Federal, State and
local laws and regulations. No person shall discharge or cause a weapon
to be discharged within any County park. The County Executive at the
request of the Director or on his own initiative may grant an exception
to this regulation. Such exception shall be limited to the allowance
of archery equipment and/or shotguns in Beck Park only, on specific
dates set forth by executive order, and as part of Department-sponsored,
managed hunts in said park. This Subsection does not prohibit fishing
as allowed by law.
[Ord. No. 18-0472, 11-26-2018]
C. Operation Of Motor Vehicles Within County Parks. The use
of motor vehicles is restricted to established roads and parking lots.
The maximum allowed speed of any motor vehicle within a County park
is fifteen miles per hour (15 m.p.h.). No motorized vehicles are allowed
on any trail with the exception of personal-assist vehicles and/or
other powered-driven mobility devices as listed and defined by the
Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA").
[Ord. No. 20-0106, 1-27-2020]
D. Parking Allowed In Designated Areas Only. The parking of vehicles
on grassy areas is not permitted; vehicles must park only in areas
designated for such use. Overnight parking is prohibited unless the
owner or operator of the vehicle is a registered camper at a designated
camping area or the owner or operator obtains permission from the
Department.
[Ord. No. 18-0472, 11-26-2018]
E. Open Fires. Patrons may build fires in the devices provided by the
Department. All fires must be extinguished prior to departure. Use
of personal charcoal/wood-burning barbecue grills/braziers are specifically
prohibited in all County parks. Patrons requesting camping permits
who intend to have an open fire will be required to provide a five-gallon
pail of water at the campsite to enable person(s) to extinguish the
fire.
[Ord. No. 18-0472, 11-26-2018]
F. Camping Permitted In Designated Areas Only. Camping is permitted
only in the County parks identified as camping facilities by the Department,
and only in areas authorized by the Department. Individuals camping
in County park(s) must obtain a permit and pay the established camping
fee.
[Ord. No. 18-0472, 11-26-2018]
G. Proper Disposal Of Rubbish And Debris Required. Park patrons
shall leave the park(s) in a clean and orderly condition. All waste
products shall be deposited in the containers provided for that purpose.
Dumping or littering on County Park property is strictly forbidden.
Disposal of household trash and or home furniture or appliances will
be considered illegal disposal of rubbish and debris.
H. Solicitation Prohibited. A written agreement is required between
the County and any business or individual to solicit business or service(s)
at County parks, except for those businesses that are invited by the
Department to participate in special events.
[Ord. No. 18-0472, 11-26-2018]
I. Firewood. Firewood for cooking and campfires (where permitted) may
be allowed in the parks. No person shall cut or remove a live tree
of any size within any Jefferson County park. Members of the public
may not remove standing trees of any nature. Downed trees or branches
may be utilized as firewood in the devices provided for that purpose.
Members of the public may obtain permits to remove downed trees located
in the parks. Such permits can be obtained at the Department office.
[Ord. No. 18-0472, 11-26-2018]
J. Use Of Metal Detectors. Metal detectors may be used in County parks for coin searching, etc., except in locations designated as historical by the Department or County and marked as such with signs erected by either the Department or the County. No shovels shall be allowed; only probing with instruments as defined in Section
240.070. (See definitions of "digging" and "non-digging method.") Written permits are required and are available at the Department office.
[Ord. No. 18-0472, 11-26-2018]
K. Concessionaires. Jefferson County may enter into contracts with concessionaires
granting permission to sell products or services in specified County
parks. The Department Director may enter into single-day (per-diem)
permits for special Department/County events. The revenue generated
from these contractual agreements shall be deposited into the Department's
General Funds.
[Ord. No. 18-0472, 11-26-2018]
L. Reservations And Facility Rentals. Specific facilities and amenities
may be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis by obtaining a
facility reservation permit from the Department. The facilities that
may be reserved and/or rented are pavilions, campsites, in-line hockey
rink, equine facilities at the Big River Saddle Club and ball fields
at the Northwest Sports Complex. The issued reservation is good for
the date, time and location specified on the permit. The reservation
is not valid for general picnic areas, playgrounds or restrooms. The
individual securing the reservation must have the permit on site during
the reserved time as proof of the reservation. Any problems arising
from unauthorized groups occupying the area should be referred to
the Department, or in extreme cases, to the Jefferson County Sheriff's
office.
[Ord. No. 18-0472, 11-26-2018]
M. Pets. All parks have restrictions governing pets. Pets are the responsibility
of the owner. Therefore, patrons shall have control of their pet(s)
by means of a secured restraint of six (6) feet or less in length.
Patrons have the responsibility to remove and properly dispose of
all fecal excrements. Selected facilities have more rigid rules governing
pets.
[Ord. No. 18-0472, 11-26-2018]
1.
Pets are strictly prohibited from the following parks: Rockford
Park; Jefferson County Winter Park; Morse Mill Park; and Cedar Hill
Park.
[Ord. No. 24-0142, 3-11-2024]
2.
Pets are strictly prohibited from the fenced areas within the
Northwest Sports Complex.
N. Glass Containers Prohibited. All glass containers are prohibited
in the County Park system.
O. Digging In County Parks Restricted. Digging in County Parks
with any device is prohibited. The search for earthworms is permitted
when a non-digging method is utilized.
P. Posting Of Signs Prohibited. The posting of non-government signs
is prohibited in any County park, unless otherwise authorized by the
Director, such as paid advertising. Posting of political signs is
permitted twenty-four (24) hours prior to, and twenty-four (24) hours
after, any election if the County utilizes the facility as a polling
location. Department employees shall remove posting of signs that
violate this rule.
[Ord. No. 18-0472, 11-26-2018]
Q. Use Of Fireworks Prohibited. All fireworks shall be prohibited
in County Parks.
R. Fishing Regulations. All fishing activities shall comply
with State laws and regulations as established by the State of Missouri
and shall be enforced as allowed by law.
S. Radio-Controlled (RC) Vehicles/Model
Vehicles. No model aircraft/drones, or other model vehicles
with internal combustion engines shall be operated in any Jefferson
County-owned, -maintained, or -controlled parks. Enthusiasts, photographers,
schools, or similar persons or entities may request special use permits
to use such restricted aircraft/drones or other model vehicles with
internal combustion engines in other County-owned, -maintained, or
-controlled parks for the purposes of taking portraits, taking group
photos, or conducting photography projects. Such special use permits
may be issued at the discretion of the Director of Parks and Recreation.
Any such permit may be on a per-diem or yearly basis at the discretion
of the Director of Parks and Recreation. Nothing in this Section shall
be construed to require that other governmental entities, including,
but not limited to, the United States Army Corps of Engineers and
the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, obtain such a special
use permit before operating model aircraft/drones in any County-owned,
-maintained, or -controlled parks in conjunction with such entity's
government business. This Subsection shall not restrict the use of
slow-moving, battery-operated, radio-controlled, ground-based devices
or watercraft.
[Ord. No. 19-0249, 4-26-2019; Ord. No. 24-0142, 3-11-2024]
T. Any and all equine activity is hereby prohibited in and within the
Jefferson County, Missouri, parks, roads and trail systems. Equine
or equestrian activity shall include any person or group, whether
mounted or unmounted, who rides, handles, trains, drives, assists
or provides others with any equine discipline whatsoever. The use
of the term "equine" shall include a horse, pony, mule, donkey or
hinny. This Subsection and provision shall not apply to the Big River
Saddle Club, River Bend Park or Beck Park, nor shall it apply to miniature
horses that have been individually trained to perform a task or service
for a person with a disability as a certified service animal as defined
by the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA").
[Ord. No. 20-0106, 1-27-2020; Ord. No. 24-0142, 3-11-2024]