HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-06-30-207B1
AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING PARKS AND RECREATIONAL TRAILS
207B.01 PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to facilitate the enjoyment of park
facilities and recreational trails by the general public by establishing rules and regulations
governing the use of those City facilities.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.12)
PARKS
207B.02 USE OF DRIVES REQUIRED. No person shall drive any car, cycle or other
vehicle, or ride or lead any horse, in any portion of a park except upon the established drives or
roadways therein or such other places as may be officially designated by the City. All vehicular
traffic on Park Circle shall be one way, in an easterly direction, and no vehicle shall be driven
contrary to one-way traffic signs. No person shall drive a truck or other commercial vehicle of
any kind along or over any park roads or drives, except for delivery of its load for use in such
park.
207B.03 FIRES. No fires shall be built in a public park; provided, however, this section
does not apply to fires in stoves, grills, and ovens for use in picnic cooking.
207B.04 LITTERING. No person shall place, deposit, or throw any waste, refuse, litter or
foreign substance in any area or receptacle except those provided for that purpose.
207B.05 PARKS CLOSED. No person shall enter or remain within any park between the
hours of 10:30 p.m. and sunrise, unless special permission has been given by the Parks and
Recreation Director.
207B.06 PUBLIC MEETINGS. Public meetings (religious, political, or otherwise),
including picnic parties and entertainment for charitable or religious purposes, may be held in the
park upon first obtaining permission from the Parks and Recreation Director. Such assemblages
shall be conducted in a lawful and orderly manner, shall be under the supervision of the Parks
and Recreation Director, and shall occupy such ground as may be assigned to or reserved for
them.
207B.07 USE OF SHELTERS.
1.Reservations; Fees. Enclosed shelters and unenclosed shelters may be reserved
for the exclusive use of groups of persons or organizations for a fee as established by
resolution of the Council.
2.Hours. No reservations shall be taken between the hours of 5:00 p.m. on Friday
and 8:00 a.m. on Monday.
3.Refusal to Grant Reservation. The Parks and Recreation Director may refuse to
grant an exclusive reservation to any group that, in the opinion of the Director, is not
large enough to fully utilize the facilities of the shelter.
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4.Deposit Required. Any person reserving the Ridge Pointe Park Pavilion or the
Community Center shall deposit a sum as established by resolution of the Council with
the Parks and Recreation Director, and if such person fails to leave the Pavilion or
Community Center in a clean and undamaged condition, such person shall forfeit the
deposit, in addition to any other remedy the City may have for any damages.
5.Display of Reservation. Reservations for the shelter shall be in writing, signed by
the Parks and Recreation Director, and shall be displayed upon request.
207B.08 PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. No parent, guardian, or custodian of a minor
shall permit or allow such minor to do any act prohibited by any provision of the rules set out by
the provisions of this chapter.
207B.09 PARKING AREAS. No automobiles, wagons or other vehicles shall be allowed
to park in any public park except in the places so designated by the Parks and Recreation
Director.
207B.10 SPEED LIMIT. No person shall ride or drive in any public park except upon the
established roads and ways, and shall not exceed a speed limit of fifteen miles per hour at any time
or ten miles per hour through play areas, as posted along said roadways.
207B.11 DISTURBING BUILDINGS OR ANIMALS. No person shall disturb, damage,
destroy, deface or otherwise interfere with any buildings or improvements of any kind made or
being made in or about a public park, or disturb or interfere with birds or animals kept or found
therein.
207B.12 DOGS RESTRICTED. No dog shall be allowed to run at large in a public park.
Any dog found in such a park shall be deemed to be found running at large, unless the owner
carries or leads the dog by a chain, strap, or rope not exceeding six feet in length, or keeps any
such dog confined in a wagon, automobile, or other vehicle by a chain, rope, or strap not
exceeding six feet in length.
207B.13 DESTRUCTION OF PLANT LIFE. No person shall in any manner deface,
injure, or remove any tree, shrub, or plant standing or growing in a public park or pick or destroy
any flowers or seeds growing therein.
207B.14 ALCOHOLIC LIQUOR. No person shall have in his or her possession or
consume any alcoholic liquor in a public park, except at special events with permission from the
Parks and Recreation Board. For the purpose of this subsection, “alcoholic liquor” is defined in
Section 123.3(5) of the Code of Iowa.
207B.15 SPLASH PADS, LAKES, PONDS AND STREAMS. No person shall throw or
place any foreign or waste substance in any lake, splash pad, wading pool, pond, or stream in a
public park. In addition, all persons shall abide by the following:
1. No person shall enter the water for any purpose, including but not limited to
wading, swimming, boating, fishing, use of flotation devices, or any other
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activity, in or on any City-owned pond, City owned detention area, or other City
owned body of water, except as specifically authorized in this chapter.
2. No person shall enter upon the frozen surface on any City-owned pond, City
Owned detention area, or other City owned body of water, for any purpose
including, but not limited to, skating, sledding, fishing, or the operation of any
vehicles, including but not limited to cars, trucks, snowmobiles, and ATVs,
except as specifically authorized in this chapter.
3. Ice Fishing. Ice fishing is permitted only on 1) “Tallgrass” and 2) “Kettlestone
Common Ponds” City-owned ponds, between Sunrise and Sunset, subject to the
following rules and conditions:
A. Any person who stands, walks, ice fishes, or otherwise enters on such frozen
surfaces does so at his or her own risk and is solely responsible for his or her
safety.
B. Any person who ice fishes on such frozen surfaces shall must assure they
remain in full compliance with applicable state law and DNR regulations and,
further, shall be familiar with applicable DNR guidelines.
C. No ice fishing structures or other appurtenances shall be used or otherwise be
placed on the on the ice, except between ½ hour after official sunrise and ½
hour before official sunset.
D. No motorized augers or other drilling devices shall be used on the ice, except
between ½ hour after official sunrise and ½ hour before official sunset.
E. No cleaning, disposing, or gutting of fish is allowed on city owned property
including, but not limited to, the city parks, ponds, trails, tables or shelters.
4. Non Ice Fishing. Fishing is permitted only on 1) “Tallgrass” and 2) “Kettlestone
Common Ponds” City-owned ponds, between Sunrise and Sunset, subject to the
following conditions:
A. Any person undertaking any activity at or near a City-Owned Ponds does so at
his or her own risk and is solely responsible for his or her safety.
B. Any person who fishes shall be in full compliance with applicable state law
and DNR regulations and, further, shall be familiar with applicable DNR
guidelines.
C. No Kayaks, paddle boats, motor boats, rafts or boats are allowed on the water.
D. No person shall wade, swim, or otherwise enter the water.
E. No cleaning, disposing, or gutting of fish is allowed on city owned property
including, but not limited to, the city parks, ponds, trails, tables or shelters.
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207B.16 UNAUTHORIZED SIGNS. No person shall post, paste, fasten, paint, or affix
any placard, bill, notice, or sign upon any structure, tree, stone, fence, or enclosure along or
within a park.
207B.17 MOVING BENCHES AND TABLES. No person shall move benches, seats, or
tables from their places in a park, except on picnic grounds, and there only within designated
lines.
207B.18 REMOVAL OF WOOD, GRASS OR GRAVEL. No person shall cut or
remove any wood, turf, grass, soil, rock, sand, or gravel from a public park, without written
permission from the Parks and Recreation Director.
207B.19 HITTING GOLF BALLS. No one shall drive, hit, or play with a golf ball in a
City park, except in areas clearly designated by signs allowing such activity.
207B.20 POWER DRIVEN MODEL AIRPLANES. No one shall fly, glide, or play
with a power driven model airplane in a City park, except by special permission of the Parks and
Recreation Director.
RECREATIONAL TRAILS
207B.21 OBEDIENCE TO OFFICIAL SIGNS. Every user of a recreational trail shall
observe and obey any official signs posted next to, adjacent to, or along any said trail.
207B.22 HOURS OF USE. Recreational trails shall be open for use by the general public
at all hours, provided appropriate personal lighting devices are in use from sunset to sunrise.
207B.23 EMERGENCY USE AND MAINTENANCE. Recreational trails may be used
by an official City, County, or State emergency, maintenance or public works vehicle when
necessary in the discharge of the duties of its operators.
207B.24 TRAIL IN COMMON USAGE WITH EXISTING PUBLIC WAY. When the
recreational trail utilizes an existing road for its traffic, the normal use of such road, street, or
highway shall not be restricted. Normal rules of the road shall apply to all users.
207B.25 TRAIL USE RESTRICTIONS.
1.Cyclists. Recreational trails may be used by cyclists, but cyclists shall yield the
right-of-way to pedestrians. Regulations of said bicycles shall be controlled by Section
321.234 of the Code of Iowa.
2.Motor Vehicles. Motor vehicles, except as otherwise provided for in this chapter,
shall not be allowed on a recreational trail. This prohibition includes, but is not limited
to, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, motor scooters, minibikes, motorized bicycles,
snowmobiles, three-wheelers, four-wheelers and go-carts.
3.Disabled Persons. Mechanical assistance is allowed in accordance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act.
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207B.26 ANIMALS.
1.Use by Animals or Animal-Drawn Vehicles. It is unlawful for a person to ride a
horse or other animal or to operate any type of horse- or animal-drawn conveyance on the
recreational trails.
2.Control of Animals. All animals must be under control of a person competent to
restrain or control the animal, either by leash, cord, chain, or other similar restraint not
more than six feet in length. The owner or person in charge of an animal shall clean up
and/or remove as soon as possible any excrement or droppings deposited by the animal
on the trail. Owners shall have a form of waste disposal in their possession while on the
recreational trails.
207B.27 PROHIBITED ACTS AND CONDITIONS.
1.Alcohol Use; Intoxication. No person shall possess, use, or consume any
alcoholic liquor, beverages, wine or distilled substances on recreational trails, and no
person shall be intoxicated or simulate intoxication on trails.
2.Hunting; Firearms and Weapons Prohibited. It is unlawful for any person to
engage in any hunting or trapping activity on the trails, using a rifle, shotgun, bow and
arrow or any other means.
3.Posting of Signs or Placards. No person shall post, fasten, paint, or affix any
placard, bill, notice, or sign upon any structure, tree, stone, sign, or fence along any trail.
207B.28 TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF TRAILS; USE RESTRICTED. Recreational
trails shall be closed for use by bicycles when accumulation of snow or ice exists on the surface
of the trail. During such periods of temporary closure, those trails that are not part of the
traveled portion of a street may be used for hiking and cross country skiing.
October 21, 2019 – Ordinance 2937