[Ord. 853, 8-2-1999; amended by 2003 Code; Ord. 09-07-03-90, 7-20-2009; Ord. 14-03-01-70, 3-3-2014]
Regulations and rules regarding use of parks and recreation areas owned or administered by the City, including Howard virgin timber park and any additions thereto, are as follows:
A. 
Camping:
1. 
No camping shall be permitted in any City park except Howard virgin timber park, and then only in designated camping areas. For Howard virgin timber park, the designated camping area is the east end of the open space east of the flagpoles only.
2. 
No person under age 18 shall camp overnight unless accompanied by a parent, guardian or other responsible adult.
3. 
Only tent and small "pop up" campers shall be allowed. No recreational vehicles, travel trailers, and the like will be allowed without first receiving permission from the City.
B. 
Fires: No campfires or fires of any other nature shall be permitted in any park or recreation area except in Howard virgin timber park, and then only in designated places, in designated containers, such as picnic grills or camp stoves, or in the camping area or in designated fire rings. Any fire, whether in an open area or in a container of some type, must be properly attended and supervised at all times.
C. 
Reservations For Use: Camping spaces and picnic shelters may be reserved by contacting City hall, and shall be reserved on a "first come" basis.
D. 
Swimming And Boating: Swimming, wading or boating in any lake or body of water within any park or recreation area is prohibited.
E. 
Fishing:
1. 
In areas where fishing is permitted in any City park, only fishing poles and lines may be used. No person shall use any "bank pole", "trot line", "jug", or any other similar device or means of attempting to catch fish or other aquatic animals. Further, no frog hunting or "jigging" shall be allowed in Howard virgin timber pond or any other body of water located in any park or recreation area owned or administered by the City. Further, no pole holders or sticks upon which a fishing rod may be or may have been resting shall be left in the ground after any person is done fishing.
2. 
As to the Howard virgin timber park pond, no person may keep more than two channel catfish per day removed from the pond, nor shall any person have in his possession more than one bass removed from the pond, which must not be shorter than 12 inches nor longer than 16 inches. All other fish caught must be released back into the pond.
F. 
Vehicle And Traffic Control:
1. 
No vehicle of any type shall be driven off any park road in any City park or recreation area except to reach a camping site or picnic pavilion.
2. 
Speed limits for vehicles on any road within any park or recreation area owned or administered by the City shall be 20 miles per hour maximum, or slower if conditions warrant.
3. 
No horse, bicycle, ATV, or other vehicle shall be allowed on any trail in Howard virgin timber park or any addition thereto.
G. 
Trash, Refuse And Waste:
1. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to throw, leave or deposit tin cans, bottles, or any other trash or refuse in any park or recreation area, including on or in any body of water in any park or recreation area, other than placing all such trash and other debris in properly designated trash containers or garbage cans.
2. 
All discarded fishing line in Howard Virgin Timber Park shall be placed in garbage cans or barrels.
3. 
No person shall dump or otherwise deposit any building or landscape waste in any City park or recreation area, including Howard Virgin Timber Park and any addition thereto.
H. 
Animal Control:
1. 
Any dog or cat in any City park or recreation area must be on a leash at all times.
2. 
Owners must clean up animal waste and feces from their animals.
I. 
Fireworks: No fireworks of any type shall be permitted in any City park or recreation area, including Howard Virgin Timber Park and any addition thereto.
J. 
Weapons: No firearms, BB guns, other air guns, paint guns, slingshots, bows and arrows, weapons or missiles of any nature or kind are permitted in or may be used in any park. This subsection does not apply to or affect the holder of a currently valid license under the firearm concealed carry act[1] carrying a concealed pistol, revolver, or handgun: 1) outside of a prohibited area under Section 65 of the act, including on a trail or bikeway if only a portion of the trail or bikeway includes a public park; 2) on or about his or her person within a vehicle in the parking area of a prohibited area, other than a school or where prohibited by law; or 3) along a public right of way that touches or crosses a prohibited area while traveling. This subsection also does not apply to or affect said licensees while storing a firearm or ammunition concealed in a case within a locked vehicle or locked container out of plain view within the vehicle in the parking area of a prohibited area, other than a school or where prohibited by law, in accordance with the act. To the extent that there is any conflict between this subsection and the firearm concealed carry act, the provisions of the act shall control.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 430 ILCS 66/1 et seq., as amended.
K. 
Liquor And Drugs: No alcoholic beverages nor illegal drug or drug paraphernalia of any kind shall be consumed, transported, or be in the possession of any person in or on any park ground or any recreation area.
L. 
Tampering With, Damage To Property:
1. 
Molestation, damage, cutting, trimming, digging up, or any other misuse of trees, shrubs or flowers in any park or recreation area owned, maintained or administered by the City is prohibited.
2. 
No picnic table shall be removed from any shelter in Howard Virgin Timber Park.
3. 
No damage or destruction of City property.
M. 
Nonliability Of City: The City shall not be responsible or liable for any accident, damages or injuries of any nature in any park or recreation area owned or administered by the City.
N. 
Fighting:
1. 
No fighting, quarreling, or aiding and abetting of same.
2. 
No use of any obscene, profane, threatening, or inciting language.
3. 
No making, aiding, or assisting another person in making any improper noise, riot, disturbance, breach of the peace, or diversion tending to a breach of the peace.
4. 
No disturbing the peace.
O. 
Hours:
1. 
No admittance to City parks from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. with the exception of Subsection A of this section. (These are defined as "quiet hours" for the parks and playgrounds.)
[Ord. 10-02-03-80, 2-1-2010]
All persons in any park or recreation area owned or administered by the City shall observe "quiet hours" in such park or recreation area from 10:00 p.m. on any day until 6:00 a.m. the next morning, daily. "Quiet" is hereby defined to mean tranquil and free from interference, noise or other disturbance. "Quiet hours" shall denote a period of calmness, stillness, inactivity, and freedom from noise.