The following rules and regulations shall govern
the use of commons, parks, playgrounds and schoolyards of the City.
A.
Buildings and other property.
(1)
Disfigurations and removal. No person shall willfully
mark, deface, disfigure, injure, tamper with, or displace or remove
any buildings, tables, benches, fireplaces, railings, paving or paving
material, waterlines or other public utilities or parts or 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.
(2)
Rest rooms and washrooms. No person shall fail to
cooperate in maintaining rest rooms and washrooms in a neat and sanitary
condition or cause any graffiti condition whatsoever or post in any
manner any unauthorized material whatsoever.
(3)
Removal of natural resources. No person shall dig
or remove any sod, soil, rock, stones, trees, shrubs, plants, timber,
wood or other materials or make any excavations by tool, equipment,
blasting or other means or agency.
(4)
Filth or offensive matter. No person shall carry or
cart by any means any filth or offensive matter or substance whatever
or be a nuisance.
(5)
Erection of structures. No person shall construct
or erect any building or structure of whatever kind, whether permanent
or temporary in character, with the exception of the following enumerated
parks where certain structures in compliance with rules and regulations
promulgated by the Board of Parks may be erected:
[Amended 4-11-1989]
(a)
Shedd Park.
(b)
McNamara Park.
(c)
Callery Park.
(d)
O'Donnell Park.
(e)
McPherson Park.
(f)
Gage Field.
(g)
Bartlett Park.
(h)
Manning Park.
(i)
Hadley Park.
(j)
Harry Allen Park.
(k)
Highland Park/Daley Field.
(l)
North Common.
(m)
South Common.
(n)
Pawtucket Memorial Field.
(o)
Edwards Street Soccer Field.
[Added 9-22-1998]
(p)
Father Maguire Park.
[Added 4-27-2004]
B.
Trees, shrubbery and lawns.
(1)
Injury and removal. 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, nor shall any person attach
any rope, wire, string or other contrivance to any tree or plant.
A person shall not dig in or otherwise disturb grass areas or in any
other way injure or impair the natural beauty or usefulness of any
area.
(2)
Climbing trees, etc. No person shall climb any trees
or walk or stand or sit upon monuments, vases, fountains, fences or
gun carriages or upon any other property not designated or customarily
used for such purposes.
(3)
Hitching of animals. No person shall tie or hitch a horse or other animal, including domesticated animals, to any tree or plant. This does not bar a person from bringing a domesticated animal into the park, provided that such domesticated animal is under the control of such person so as not to disturb or injure any other person, tree or plant, except that in the case of a dog compliance must be made with Chapter 104, § 104-6 of the City Code and such dog shall not be allowed to run at will.
C.
Traffic.
(1)
Motor or recreational vehicles. No person shall ride,
lead or drive any motor vehicle or recreational vehicle in or upon
any common, park, playground or schoolyard without permission by the
City, Board of Parks or School Department in that area of its authority.
(2)
Bicycles. No bicycles shall be allowed on a common,
park or playground except on a paved road, sidewalk or path designated
for that purpose by the City or authorized agent. A bicyclist shall
be permitted to wheel or push a bicycle by hand over any grassy area
or paved area reserved for pedestrian use. Operation of a bicycle,
in permitted areas, shall be on the right side of road, path or paved
way and shall be in single file when two or more are operating in
a group. Operation shall at all times be with reasonable regard to
the safety of others. Riding any other person on a bicycle is prohibited.
D.
Bathing and swimming.
(1)
Swimming pools. Swimming pools available at certain
commons, parks or playgrounds are under the control of a specific
agency, and permission for use of a swimming pool is under its authority
at the designated hours of the day and in compliance with such regulations
as required by such agency. Any person, adult or minor, who refuses
to obey the instructions of water instructor, lifeguard or director
of the swimming pool shall be refused the use of the pool and shall
be evicted, and if he or she refuses to remove himself or herself
peacefully when so ordered, he or she may be arrested by a police
officer of the City.
(2)
Bathing attire. No person shall allow himself or herself
to be so covered with a bathing attire as to indecently expose his
or her person, and all bathing attire shall conform to commonly accepted
standards of bathing suits.
(3)
Bathhouses. No person shall dress or undress in any
vehicle, toilet or other place within the confines of a common, park
or playground, except in such bathhouses or structures provided for
that purpose.
E.
Recreation. The only games allowed to be played on
commons, parks, playgrounds and schoolyards are those for which a
particular area has been designated. Alternatives require the permission
of the designated authority, be it the City, Board of Parks, or the
School Department.
F.
Behavior. No person in a common, park or playground
shall:
(2)
Gamble or participate in or abet any game of chance.
(3)
Solicit alms or contributions in any form for any
purpose, whether public or private.
(4)
Sleep on seats or benches or engage in loud, boisterous,
abusive, threatening, insulting or indecent language or engage in
any disorderly conduct or behavior tending to annoy others or breach
the public peace.
(5)
Fail to properly identify himself or herself upon
direction of a police officer by giving his or her true name, address,
or age, in case of a minor, or by producing proper identification
papers with such information.
All commons, parks, playgrounds and schoolyards
shall be posted by such agency assigned control thereto, to include
such commons, parks and playgrounds under the direct control of the
City. The posting shall indicate the authorized hours of use for the
calendar year, rules and regulations, the arrest provisions and the
stipulated fine.
A.
Any police officer of the City, upon viewing a violation of the rules and regulations indicated by § 214-8, shall have the right to arrest such person who fails to properly identify himself at the demand of a police officer. The person is required to state his or her true name and address and his or her true age or produce proper identification papers with such information. If the police officer is satisfied with the identity of the person, such person shall be summoned into the Lowell District Court, provided that such person has not violated any other statutory provisions of the Massachusetts General Laws which in such cases shall have precedence.
A.
A person other than a minor violating any of the rules and regulations established by § 214-8 or established by the Board of Parks of the City or by the School Department of the City and charged directly with such violation and found guilty shall be subject to a fine of $25 for the first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense thereafter.
[Amended 4-4-1989]
B.
Any minor found violating the rules and regulations established by § 214-8 shall be summoned to the Juvenile Court of the Lowell District Court on the second or each subsequent offense. Any parent, guardian or other adult person having custody or control of a minor who violates § 214-8 and is found guilty by the Juvenile Court of the Lowell District Court of a second violation shall be subject to a fine of $25 and for each subsequent offense a fine of $50.
[Amended 4-4-1989]
C.
The penalty provisions for violation of any other
statutory provisions of the Massachusetts General Laws shall have
precedence.
