[Code 1964, § 18-1]
All the provisions of the traffic ordinances of the City and the fines and punishments provided in the traffic ordinances and all the provisions of the other ordinances of the City and the fines and penalties provided for same shall apply to any action, violation, offense or crime committed within the park limits.
[Code 1964, § 18-20; amended 12-1-2021 by Ord. No. 93]
(a) 
All parks and playgrounds shall be open daily as follows: 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. from April 15 to November 15 and from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. from November 15 to April 15 of each year. No persons are authorized to be in the public parks except for during the hours set forth herein.
(b) 
The above does not include clearly illuminated areas that are being utilized in a park, such as basketball courts, football fields, tennis courts, or other activities for which a special use permit has been applied for and granted by the Commissioner of Parks.
(c) 
Any person or persons found to be at such playground or park located in the City of Utica at times prohibited in Subsection (a) herein shall be deemed a trespasser.
(d) 
Said person or persons who are found in the parks or playgrounds after the hours set forth above or at such times when lighted areas are dark, shall be directed to leave said park or playground for safety concerns. If said person or persons refuse to leave, or return to the park or playground after the hours stated herein, or the lights have been extinguished or is without a special use permit, then said person or persons will be issued a summons returnable in Utica City Court.
[Code 1964, § 18-21.1]
No person shall refuse or neglect to obey any reasonable direction of any special park or auxiliary police officer, or any member of the Bureau of Police performing police duties in the public parks.
[Code 1964, § 18-23; Ord. No. 115, § 2, 6-2-1993; amended 12-19-2012 by Ord. No. 208]
Groups of over 25 persons who wish to use any part of a park for picnics, outings or other similar activity must obtain a permit from the City Clerk. Fees for such permits shall be set forth in Section 2-18-62.
(1) 
Special event permits include a special event facility use permit, application for which must be obtained through the City Clerk’s office. When this application is completed it must be submitted to the City Clerk’s office no fewer than 20 days prior to the event.
a. 
An incomplete application, or one submitted without the permit fee, will not be accepted.
b. 
All events require a general liability insurance policy of $1,000,000 naming the City of Utica as an additional insured party and must be submitted prior to the issuance of a permit (not required for expressive activities).
c. 
The insurance requirements may be waived if the event is cosponsored by the City of Utica. If police, fire and/or the City services are required, costs will be the responsibility of the applicant/permit holder and organization (not required for expressive activities).
d. 
The applicant/permit holder is obligated to adhere to all rules and regulations detailed in the Code of the City of Utica. All applicants will be required to pay a deposit of $100. (Make check payable to the City Clerk.)
e. 
Said deposit is refundable if the premises is left in a clean condition following the event. The Commissioner of Parks shall determine whether or not the deposit is refundable.
[Amended 11-20-2013 by Ord. No. 284]
1. 
The cost for using the band shell shall be as follows:
[Amended 5-19-2021 by Ord. No. 17]
[a] 
If delivery is inside City limits: $200 for the first day, plus $75 for each additional day or part thereof.
[b] 
If the band shell is delivered outside the City limits, then the recipient, in lieu of the above fee, shall reimburse the City the cost incurred by the City in the delivery and return of the band shell. The cost shall be determined by the Commissioner of Public Works. The Commissioner of Public Works shall prepare a schedule of the standard costs to be charged based on mileage, personnel and related costs, and file same with the City Clerk. These costs may be adjusted by the Commissioner from time to time to reflect changes in costs and unusual circumstances.
2. 
Large group event (26 to 50 attendees).
3. 
Large group event (50+ attendees).
4. 
Chancellor Park: $100.
5. 
FT Proctor Pavilion: $100.
6. 
Lincoln Park: $100.
7. 
Pixley Park: $100.
8. 
South Woods Pavilion: $200.
9. 
TR Proctor Park Pavilion: $100.
10. 
Hanna Park (City Hall): $100.
11. 
Expressive activities (See below.[1]) (Cleanup deposit required; no fee.)
[1]
Editor’s Note: The description of "expressive activities" is included in the special event facility use permit application. Said description reads as follows: "'Expressive activity' includes conduct, the sole or principal object of which is the expression, dissemination or communication by verbal, visual, literacy, or auditory means, of opinion, views or ideas for which no fee or donation is charged or required as a condition of participation in or attendance at such activity. 'Expressive activity' does not include sports events, including marathons, fund-raising events or events the principal purpose of which is entertainment."
12. 
Parade permits must be obtained though the City Clerk's office and approved by the Chief of Police.
13. 
Recreation Center (gym only):
[a] 
Gym rental: $200 plus $25 per hour to cover building security and custodial.
[b] 
No deposit.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 2-18-35, pertaining to permission to sell beer in certain areas, derived from the original 1964 Code, Section 18-32.1, was repealed 6-2-1993 by Ord. No. 115, Section 5.
[Code 1964, § 18-2]
No person shall carry or discharge an air rifle, firearm, air gun or slingshot or throw stones or other missiles within the limits of any public park, playground or other recreation area. No person shall hit a golf ball or other missile within the limits of any park, playground or other recreation area other than in areas designated by the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation.
[Code 1964, § 18-3]
No person shall handle, injure, destroy, damage or appropriate trees, shrubs, flowers or other plants growing in any public park or damage, destroy, deface or appropriate any building, fence, bench, table, fireplace, sign or other structure within the limits of the parks.
[Code 1964, § 18-16.1]
(a) 
Definition. As used in this section, "trapping" means taking, killing or capturing wildlife with traps on dry land, deadfalls and other devices commonly used to take wildlife on dry land and the shooting or killing of wildlife lawfully trapped on dry land and includes all lesser acts such as placing, setting or staking the traps, deadfalls and other devices on dry land, whether they result in taking or not and every attempt to take and every act of assistance to any other person in taking or attempting to take wildlife on dry land with traps, deadfalls or other devices.
(b) 
Prohibited. It shall be unlawful to engage in dry-land trapping upon park land.
(c) 
Penalty. Each trap shall be considered a separate offense.
(d) 
Signs. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall erect the appropriate signs posting City park land in accordance with this section.
[Code 1964, § 18-18]
No person shall move any seat, bench or table into the shrubbery or thicket of any park, and after sundown, no person shall move any seat or bench from the path where it is situated or elsewhere.
[Ord. No. 115, § 6, 6-2-1993]
Fires are restricted for cooking purposes in picnic areas only and must be confined to those receptacles furnished for general public use, or in the alternative fire boxes owned by the users thereof. Any other open fire is forbidden at any time.
[Ord. No. 115, § 8, 6-2-1993]
In addition to any penalty otherwise provided by law, those persons within the boundary of the park, whether using its facilities or not, are subject to the rules and regulations contained herein and may be ejected from the park in the event that they violate any rule or regulation.