For the purpose of this article the following terms shall have
the following meanings unless the context indicates otherwise.
A field or area that has been closed for any use due to weather
or maintenance by the recreation manager.
The managing director of the City of DeSoto Department of
Community Services or designee.
Means a field that has been designated by the recreation
manager to be used only for the purpose of conducting league play
or tournament play only.
A field or facility designed and maintained for league play
of sports activities, such as football, soccer, softball, or baseball.
Means an athletic event which is authorized, organized or
scheduled with the assistance of the city parks and recreation department
by a nonprofit organization which is a member of the DeSoto Sports
Association.
Means a park, reservation, playground, recreation center,
or any other area in the city owned, leased, controlled or used by
the city, and devoted to active or passive recreation, including all
planted expressways, parkways, triangles and traffic circles maintained
by the city.
Means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, association,
company or organization of any kind.
Means the City of DeSoto Recreation Manager or designee.
(Ordinance 1379-00 adopted 9/19/00; Ordinance
2381-24 adopted 5/7/2024)
Within the limits of said parks, it shall be unlawful for any
person or persons to do any of the acts hereinafter specified, except
as may be otherwise provided:
(1)
To hitch,
fasten, lead, drive, or let loose any animal, reptile or fowl of any
kind, provided that this shall not apply to dogs when led by a cord
or chain, not more than six (6) feet long except in designated areas.
(2)
To ride
or drive any horse or other animal, except in designated areas. To
ride, drive, or go at a rate of speed faster than speed limits as
posted on standard traffic signs, upon any bicycle, motorcycle automobile
or any other vehicle whatsoever, upon any drive or street in any park
of the city, or to ride or drive any such motorcycle, automobile,
or other motorized vehicle upon any walk in such park, or to ride
or drive any such motorcycle, automobile or other motorized vehicle
upon the turf, grass or soil, except in designated areas.
(3)
To carry
or discharge any firearms, firecrackers, rockets, torpedoes or any
other fireworks, airguns, BB guns, bows and arrows, slingshots; or
hit golf balls, except in designated areas.
(4)
To damage,
cut, break, injure, deface, or disturb any tree, plant, shrub, rock,
building, cage, pen, monument, fence, bench or other structure, apparatus,
or property; or to pluck, pull up, cut, take or remove any shrub,
bush, plant or flower; or to mark or write upon, paint or deface in
any manner, any building, monument, fence, bench, or other structure.
(5)
To cut
or remove any turf, wood, grass, soil, rock, sand, gravel, or fertilizer.
(6)
To swim,
to bathe, wade in, or pollute the water of any fountain, pond, lake,
or stream.
(7)
To make
or kindle a fire except in picnic stoves, braziers, firepits, or designated
areas provided for that purpose.
(8)
To wash
dishes or to empty salt water or other waste liquids elsewhere than
in sinks provided for such purposes.
(9)
To leave
garbage, cans, bottles, papers, or other refuse elsewhere than in
receptacles provided therefor.
(10)
To
participate or engage in any activity on any public park area when
such activity will create a danger to the public or may be considered
a public nuisance. Overnight camping is prohibited on any park property
except by special permit issued by the city manager or his designate.
(11)
To
play or bet at or against any game which is played, conducted, dealt
or carried on with cards, dice, or other device, for money, chips,
shells, credit or any other representation of value, or to maintain
or exhibit any gambling table or other instrument of gambling or gaming.
(12)
To
use or speak any threatening, abusive, insulting or indecent language
in any of the public parks, and no person shall commit, in any parks,
any obscene, lewd, or indecent act or create any nuisance.
(13)
To
disturb in any manner, any picnic, meeting, service, concert, exercise
or exhibition.
(14)
To
distribute, post, place or erect any advertising, handbill, circular,
bill, notice, paper or other advertising device without prior permission
of the city manager or his designate.
(15)
To
sell or offer for sale any food, drinks, confections, merchandise,
or services unless such person has a written agreement or a permit
issued by the city manager or his designate.
(16)
To
practice, carry on, conduct or solicit any trade, occupation, business
or profession or to circulate a petition of any kind or character
without approval of the city manager or his designate.
(17)
For
any person over the age of six (6) years to use the restrooms and
washrooms designated for the opposite sex.
(18)
To
remain, stay or loiter in any public park between the hours of 12:00
midnight and 5:00 a.m. of the following day or remain, stay or loiter
in any park in other than open hours if posted as open other than
5:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight of the same day except by a special permit
issued by the city manager or his designate.
(19)
To
possess or consume any alcoholic beverage within a park facility,
with the following exceptions:
(A)
The serving of alcoholic beverages for on-premises possession and
consumption shall only be permitted at a city-sponsored event at the
Town Center Park and Amphitheatre.
(B)
The serving of alcoholic beverages for on-premises possession and
consumption shall only be permitted at the city civic center and the
Corner Theatre provided such service is authorized through a facility
use rental agreement. The requestor must provide an approximate number
of people expected to attend the event and comply with all city requirements
for protection of the health, safety and welfare of the community.
In cases of multiple requests, permits or facility use agreements
shall be granted on a first come, first serve basis. If the director
determines that the conduct of the permitted activity requires additional
security precautions be taken to permit the service of alcoholic beverages
at the event, the director shall impose a fee to defray the cost of
furnishing adequate security forces by the city at the proposed event.
(20)
To
participate or to attempt to participate as a coach, assistant coach,
manager, trainer, umpire, referee or other official during any game,
practice, or tournament sponsored by an organized sports association,
if such person is not recognized as such or if the person's recognition
has been suspended, terminated or revoked by such sports association.
(21)
To
use any tobacco product, or to smoke or possess any burning tobacco
weed, plant or other tobacco product except in designated smoking
areas or in paved parking areas.
(22)
To
interfere or disrupt any game, league play, tournament or practice
of any organized sports association, or any city sponsored or approved
organized athletic activity.
(23)
To
use any abusive or profane language or gestures toward any coach,
assistant coach, trainer, manager, umpire, referee, player, or other
official during a practice, game or league play of any organized sports
association or any city sponsored or approved organized athletic activity.
(24)
For
any person ejected from a game, field or facility by the umpire, referee,
or other game official, to fail to leave the game, field or facility,
or to otherwise fail to comply with the ejection order.
(25)
For
a person 18 years of age or older to participate or to attempt to
participate in any game, practice, or tournament of a youth sports
association as a coach, assistant coach, trainer, manager, umpire,
referee or in any other official capacity without first having on
file with the recreation manager a current certificate of satisfactory
compliance with the city policy for criminal background check from
the sponsoring youth sports association.
(26)
To
enter onto a reserved facility or area, or a location where scheduled
activities are occurring, during the period that the area or facility
is reserved or during the scheduled activity and remain or return
thereafter the person has been given notice to leave. Reserved facilities
and areas, and scheduled activities, include but are not limited to:
indoor and outdoor facilities, pavilions, meeting rooms, gathering
areas, camps, and classes.
(27)
To
permit an animal owned or possessed by an individual to enter or remain
on a league athletic playing field/facility during league operations,
which includes practices and/or games.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 1, Article 1.1000,
Section 1.1002; Ordinance 1379-00 adopted 9/19/00; Ordinance
1818-09 adopted 3/3/09; Ordinance 1859-10 adopted 8/17/10; Ordinance 2381-24 adopted 5/7/2024)
The recreation manager is authorized to close any section or
part of a park at any time and for any period or interval of time
due to weather, maintenance or other public health or safety reason.
It shall be unlawful for any person to go upon any section or area
of a park which has been closed by the recreation manager.
(Ordinance 1379-00 adopted 9/19/00)
(a)
Officials.
The city manager or his designate, park attendants designated
by the city manager or his designate, and police department, shall
in connection with their duties imposed by law, diligently enforce
the provisions of this article.
(b)
Ejectment.
The city manager or his designate, park attendants designated
by the city manager or his designate, shall have the authority to
eject from the park any person acting in violation of this article.
(c)
Seizure
of Property.
The city manager or his designate, or any
member of the police department shall have the authority to seize
and confiscate any property, thing or device in the park, or used
in violation of this article.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 1, Article 1.1000,
Section 1.1004)
(a)
The
recreation manager is authorized to designate fields as game fields
by posting a sign thereon stating:
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"Game Field-Restricted to League Play Only"
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(b)
It shall
be unlawful for any person to go upon a field which has been designated
a game field except for the purpose of participating in approved league
play.
(Ordinance 1681-06 adopted 8/15/06)
(a)
The
recreation manager is authorized to designate any field as a closed
field for purposes of maintenance or to protect the surface of the
field from damage by posting a sign thereon stating:
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"Closed Field--Do Not Trespass"
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(b)
It shall
be unlawful for any person to go upon a field which has been designated
as a closed field except for the purpose of authorized maintenance
or repairs.
(Ordinance 1681-06 adopted 8/15/06)
Except with prior approval of the recreation manager, no practice
is allowed on any Game Field or areas where games and practices have
been canceled due to weather conditions. Each sports organization
shall require in its by-laws that any team guilty of violating this
provision shall forfeit one league game.
(Ordinance 1681-06 adopted 8/15/06)
(a)
Sports
associations which desire to use any city park or athletic facility
shall be required to execute a facility use agreement with the city
which contains the duties and responsibilities of the parties. For
purposes of this section, a resident is defined as an individual currently
residing in the city, or currently attending public school in the
DeSoto Independent School District.
(b)
Youth
sports associations who play or wish to use any city park or athletic
facility in the city shall abide by the following policies:
(1)
City
residents shall always be allowed to participate.
(2)
A
participant fee shall be charged to nonresident players. The fee will
be determined by the city and may vary from year to year.
(3)
A
number cap established by the city for teams shall be enforced.
(4)
A
number cap for organizations within a league shall be established
by the city and enforced.
(5)
The
nonresident participant fee shall be used to assist in the maintenance
and operation of the athletic fields and facilities.
(6)
A
team who has a majority of players who are nonresidents of the city
will not be allowed to use the city practice facilities unless field
rental fees are paid.
(7)
No
additional youth athletic facilities shall be funded by the city until
the participation in that particular youth sport has achieved 100%
participation from city residents.
(8)
These
policies shall apply for all youth sports associations in the city.
(Ordinance 1681-06 adopted 8/15/06)
The recreation manager shall control all concession rights for
all parks and athletic facilities. No concession may be sold in any
park or facility by any person except with the approval of the recreation
manager.
(Ordinance 1379-00 adopted 9/19/00)
Organizations or associations conducting organized leagues must
provide and keep in force for the duration of the season with an insurance
company duly licensed in the State of Texas and rated A- or better
by A.M. Best, general liability insurance in an amount specified by
the city's risk manager. Insurance limits will be reviewed on an annual
basis. In addition, the policy shall include the City of DeSoto as
an additional named insured. No games may be played until an acceptable
proof of insurance has been received by the recreation manager and
reviewed for adequacy by the city's risk manager.
(Ordinance 1379-00 adopted 9/19/00)
All groups or organizations desirous of establishing leagues
and utilizing recreational facilities owned, leased, or controlled
by the city for competitive or recreational league play must comply
with the following requirements:
(1)
Be a
nonprofit organization serving and operating exclusively for amateur
sports competition.
(2)
If requested,
file a yearly financial report with the recreation manager.
(3)
Have
an active board of directors with a president or chairperson, vice-president
or co-chairperson, secretary, and treasurer.
(4)
Have
on file with the recreation manager a current copy of the organization's
articles of incorporation, constitution, bylaws (which must be in
harmony with parks and recreation department policies), a certificate
of liability insurance, and names of the organization's board of directors.
(5)
Have
a policy that permits individuals to file for exemption from registration
fees.
(6)
Have
a non-discrimination policy in which programs operated by the organization
are open to all residents of DeSoto regardless of race, age, socio-economic
level, color, sex, national origin, religion, and handicap status.
(Ordinance 1379-00 adopted 9/19/00)
All youth sports associations which desire to use any city facilities
shall comply with the city policy adopted by the city council by resolution
from time to time for criminal background checks for youth sports
association coaches, assistant coaches, managers, umpires, referees,
or other volunteers.
(Ordinance 1379-00 adopted 9/19/00)
