[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 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.
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.
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.