For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them:
Park.
A public park, playground, recreation center or any other area in the city owned or used by the city and devoted to active or passive recreation.
Vehicle.
Any wheeled conveyance, whether motor-powered, animal-drawn or self-propelled. The term shall include any trailer in tow of any size, kind or description. Exception is made of baby carriages and vehicles in the service of the city parks.
(1978 Code, sec. 20-1)
(a) 
Officials.
The director of parks and recreation and the park attendants shall, in connection with their duties imposed by law, diligently enforce the provisions of this article.
(b) 
Ejection.
The director and the park attendants shall have the authority to eject from the park any person acting in violation of this article.
(c) 
Seizure of property.
The director and the park attendants shall have the authority to seize and confiscate any property, thing or device in the park used in violation of this article.
(1958 Code, sec. 25-8; 1978 Code, sec. 20-3)
(a) 
Buildings and other property.
No person shall willfully mark, deface, disfigure, injure, tamper with or displace or remove any building, bridges, tables, benches, fireplaces, railings, paving or paving material, water lines or other public utilities or parts of appurtenances thereof, signs, notices or placards, whether temporary or permanent, monuments, stakes, posts or other boundary markers, or other structures or equipment, facilities or park property or appurtenances whatsoever, either real or personal; fail to cooperate in maintaining restrooms and washrooms in a neat and sanitary condition; or dig or remove any soil, rocks, stones, trees, shrubs, or plants or materials, or make any excavation by tool, equipment or other means.
(b) 
Trees, shrubbery, and lawns.
No person shall damage, cut, carve, transplant or remove any tree or plant or injure the bark, or pick the flowers or seeds, of any tree or plant. No person shall dig or otherwise disturb grass areas, or in any way injure or impair the natural beauty or usefulness of any area.
(c) 
Wild animals, birds, etc.
No person shall hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, chase, tease, shoot or throw missiles at any animal, reptile or bird. Exception to the foregoing is made in that snakes known to be deadly poisonous, such as rattlesnakes, moccasins, coral snakes or other deadly reptiles, may be killed on sight. No person shall give or offer or attempt to give to any animal any known noxious substances.
(d) 
Hours.
All city parks, other than open areas adjacent to the Civic Center complex, shall be closed between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m. or as otherwise posted. It shall be unlawful for any person to be upon the parks of the city described herein during hours that the park is closed. Parks may be opened at other times at the discretion of the city manager.
(1958 Code, sec. 25-2; Ordinance 91-24, sec. 1, adopted 3/19/91; Ordinance 91-50, sec. 1, adopted 6/4/91; 1978 Code, sec. 20-4; Ordinance 07-055, sec. 2, adopted 5/8/07)
(a) 
Pollution of waters.
No person shall throw, discharge or otherwise place or cause to be placed in the water of any fountain, pond, lake or other body of water in or adjacent to any park any substance, matter or thing, liquid or solid, which will or may result in the pollution of such waters.
(b) 
Refuse and trash.
No person shall bring in or dump, deposit or leave any bottles, broken glass, ashes, paper, boxes, cans, dirt, rubbish, waste, garbage or refuse or other trash. No such refuse or trash shall be placed in any waters in any park or left anywhere on the ground thereof, but shall be placed in the proper receptacles where these are provided; where receptacles are not so provided, all such rubbish or waste shall be carried away from the park by the person responsible for its presence, and properly disposed of elsewhere.
(1958 Code, sec. 25-3; 1978 Code, sec. 20-5)
(a) 
Motor vehicle laws apply.
No person shall fail to comply with all applicable provisions of the state and city motor vehicle traffic laws in regard to equipment and operation of vehicles, together with such regulations as are contained in this article.
(b) 
Enforcement of traffic regulations.
No person shall fail to obey all traffic officers and park employees, such persons being hereby authorized and instructed to direct traffic whenever and wherever needed in the parks and on the highways, streets or roads immediately adjacent thereto in accordance with the provisions of these regulations and such supplementary regulations as may be issued by the director.
(c) 
Obey traffic signs.
No person shall fail to observe carefully all traffic signs indicating speed, direction, caution, stopping or parking, and all others posted for proper control and to safeguard life and property.
(d) 
Speed of vehicles.
No person shall ride or drive a vehicle at a rate of speed exceeding twenty (20) miles an hour, except upon such roads as the director may designate by posted signs for faster travel.
(e) 
Operation confined to roads.
No person shall drive any vehicle on any area except the designated park roads or parking areas, or such other areas as may on occasion be specifically designated as temporary parking areas by the director of parks.
(f) 
Parking.
No person shall park a vehicle in other than an established or designated parking area, and such use shall be in accordance with the posted directions thereat and with instructions of any attendant who may be present. No person shall double park a vehicle on any road or parkway unless directed by a park official.
(g) 
Bicycles.
Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian.
(h) 
Horseback riding.
No person shall ride a horse except on designated bridle trails.
(1958 Code, secs. 25-4, 25-5(g); 1978 Code, sec. 20-6; Ordinance 15-017, sec. 1, adopted 6/16/15)
No person shall hunt, trap or pursue wildlife at any time. No person shall use, carry or possess firearms of any description or air rifles, spring guns, slings or any other form of weapons potentially inimical to wildlife or dangerous to human safety or any instrument that can be loaded with and fire blank cartridges or any kind of trapping device. Shooting into areas from beyond park boundaries is forbidden.
(1958 Code, sec. 25-5(a); 1978 Code, sec. 20-7)
(a) 
No person shall picnic or lunch in places other than those designated for that purpose. Activities in such areas shall be limited when necessary to prevent congestion and to secure the maximum use for the comfort and convenience of all. Visitors shall comply with any directions given to achieve this end.
(b) 
No person shall violate the regulations and use of the individual fireplaces together with tables and benches, which follows generally the rule of “first come, first served.”
(c) 
No person shall use any portion of the picnic areas or any other buildings or structures therein for the purposes of holding picnics to the exclusion of other persons except with special permit from the director.
(d) 
No person shall leave a picnic area before the fire is completely extinguished and before all trash in the nature of boxes, papers, cans, bottles, garbage and other refuse is placed in the disposal receptacles where provided.
(1958 Code, sec. 25-5(b)–(e); 1978 Code, sec. 20-8)
No person shall take part in or abet the playing of any games involving thrown or otherwise propelled objects such as balls, stones, arrows, javelins or model airplanes except in areas set apart for such form of recreation. The playing of rough or comparatively dangerous games such as football, baseball or quoits is prohibited except on the fields or areas provided therefor.
(1958 Code, sec. 25-5(f); 1978 Code, sec. 20-9)
(a) 
Intoxication.
No person shall enter or remain within any park while under the influence of intoxicating liquor.
(b) 
Fireworks and explosives.
No person shall bring or have in his possession or set off or otherwise cause to explode or discharge or burn any firecracker, torpedo, rocket or other fireworks or explosives or discharge them or throw them into any such area from land or highway adjacent thereto. This prohibition shall not apply to a fireworks display as authorized and for which a permit has been issued by the city.
(c) 
Dress.
No person shall appear at any place in other than proper clothing. With the exception of the restricted bathing areas, “properly clothed” shall be construed to prohibit the wearing of trunks or clothing that does not cover the upper portion of the body.
(d) 
Soliciting.
No person shall solicit alms or contributions for any purpose, whether public or private.
(e) 
Fires.
No person shall build or attempt to build a fire except in such areas and under such regulations as made or designated by the director. No person shall drop, throw or otherwise scatter lighted matches, burning cigarettes, cigars, tobacco paper or other inflammable material within any park areas.
(f) 
Games of chance.
No person shall gamble or participate in or abet any game of chance.
(g) 
Loitering and boisterousness.
No person shall sleep or protractedly lounge on the seats or benches or other park property; engage in loud, boisterous, threatening, abusive, insulting or indecent language; or engage in any disorderly conduct or behavior tending to a breach of the public peace.
(h) 
Alcoholic beverages.
No person shall sell, consume or possess any alcoholic beverage within any park of the city. The prohibition against sale, consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages shall not apply as follows:
(1) 
Within Riverfront Park so long as the sale is to, and possession and consumption is by, persons who are attending functions which are sponsored by groups or organizations and which are held in conjunction with the rental and use of facilities controlled by the Civic Center complex.
(2) 
Within the clubhouse of the Henry Homberg Golf Course or on the golf course itself, pursuant to the authorized sale of alcoholic beverages by the golf course operators;
(3) 
Within any city park, so long as the sale, consumption, and possession of alcohol is only by and/or as a result of the purchase, dispensing or being given in conjunction with a city-sponsored event.
(4) 
Within the facilities or premises located at the Beaumont Botanical Gardens, so long as the sale is to, and possession and consumption is by, persons who are attending functions which are sponsored by groups or organizations and which are held in conjunction with the rental and use of facilities or premises controlled by the Beaumont Council of Garden Clubs. Premises is defined to mean any building or portion of a building, public driveway, walkway, grounds, parking lot or other parking areas.
(i) 
Glass beverage containers.
It shall be unlawful for any person to use or possess, in any form, any glass beverage container in any area situated within a city park as that term is defined in section 14.04.001 hereof.
(1) 
The provisions of this subsection shall not apply where such glass container is used or possessed inside or within any of the enclosed perimeters, structures, or businesses within a park.
(2) 
It shall be unlawful for any business establishment or person situated within a park other than a business establishment located in those areas described in subsection (1) above to sell or offer for sale any beverage in a glass container for on- or off-premises consumption use.
(j) 
Sound-producing devices.
No person shall use, operate or allow to be used or operated any device for the reproducing or augmentation of sound in such manner as to disturb the peace, quiet or comfort of persons in a city park. The operation of any such sound-reproducing or augmentation device in such manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of fifty (50) or more feet from the source of the sound shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section. For the sound to be “plainly audible,” words or phrases need not be distinguishable and bass reverberations are sufficient. This prohibition shall not apply to city-sponsored entertainment events in parks.
(1958 Code, sec. 25-6; Ordinance 75-65, sec. 1, adopted 10/14/75; Ordinance 77-102, sec. 1, adopted 9/27/77; Ordinance 83-62, sec. 1, adopted 6/14/83; Ordinance 83-143, sec. 1, adopted 10/25/83; Ordinance 84-114, sec. 1, adopted 9/11/84; Ordinance 85-25, sec. 1, adopted 2/26/85; Ordinance 92-52, sec. 1, adopted 7/14/92; Ordinance 96-25, secs. 1, 2, adopted 5/7/96; 1978 Code, sec. 20-10; Ordinance 07-055, sec. 3, adopted 5/8/07; Ordinance 15-026, sec. 1, adopted 7/28/15; Ordinance 16-008, sec. 1, adopted 2/2/16)
(a) 
Vending and peddling.
No person shall expose or offer for sale any article or thing, nor shall he station or place any stand, cart or vehicle for the transportation, sale or display of any such article or thing. Exception is here made as to any regularly licensed concessionaire acting by and under the authority and regulation of the director.
(b) 
Advertising.
No person shall announce, advertise or call the public’s attention in any way to any article or service for sale or hire.
(c) 
Signs.
No person shall paste, glue, tack or otherwise post any signs, placard, advertisement or inscription whatsoever, nor shall any person erect or cause to be [erected] any sign whatsoever, nor shall any person erect or cause to be erected any sign whatsoever on any public land or highway or roads adjacent to the park.
(1958 Code, sec. 25-7; 1978 Code, sec. 20-11)
Nonresidents of the city over the age of eighteen (18) years shall be charged a fee as listed in the fee schedule of this code per usage for the use of the Sterling Pruitt Activity Center. Those wishing to use the Sterling Pruitt Activity Center will be required, upon request, to provide a photo identification card to verify their resident or nonresident status.
(Ordinance 03-077, sec. 1, adopted 9/23/03; 1978 Code, sec. 20-12; Ordinance 07-055, sec. 4, adopted 5/8/07; Ordinance 25-008 adopted 2/18/2025)
The fees as listed in the fee schedule of this code shall be applicable for the Henry Homberg Golf Course.
(Ordinance 08-091, sec. 1, adopted 10/14/08; Ordinance 13-048, sec. 1, adopted 8/13/13; Ordinance 18-063 adopted 10/23/18; Ordinance 25-008 adopted 2/18/2025)
(a) 
Fees (tax included).
As listed in the fee schedule of this code.
(b) 
Annual memberships.
As listed in the fee schedule of this code.
(c) 
Special rates.
The city manager may approve other rates for tournaments, specials, or other events.
(Ordinance 14-062, sec. 1, adopted 11/12/14; Ordinance 18-069 adopted 12/18/18; Ordinance 25-008 adopted 2/18/2025)