CHAPTER 97:  PARKS AND RECREATION

 

 

Section

 

       97.01     Definitions

       97.02     Buildings and other property

       97.03     Trees; shrubbery; lawns

       97.04     Wild animals, birds and the like

       97.05     Overnight parking

       97.06     Sanitation

       97.07     Traffic

       97.08     Recreational activities

       97.09     Behavior

       97.10     Merchandising; advertising; signs

       97.11     Consumption or possession for the purpose of consumption of any alcoholic beverage

       97.12     Enforcement

       97.13     Big Rocks Park:  hours of operation and restrictions

 

 

§ 97.01  DEFINITIONS.

 

       For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein.  The word “shall” is always mandatory and not merely directory.

 

       DIRECTOR OF PARKS.  The City Superintendent who shall serve as Director of Parks until a director is appointed.

 

       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.     

(Prior Code, Ch. 1 § 15)

 

 

§ 97.02  BUILDINGS AND OTHER PROPERTY.

 

       (A)  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 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.

 

       (B)  No person shall fail to cooperate in maintaining restrooms and washrooms in a neat and sanitary condition.

 

       (C)  No person shall dig, or remove any soil, rocks, stones, trees, shrubs or plants, or materials, or make any excavation by tool, equipment or other means or agency, or in any other manner deface the natural integrity of any area.

(Prior Code, Ch. 1 § 15)  Penalty, see § 10.99

 

 

§ 97.03  TREES; SHRUBBERY; 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.  A person shall not dig or otherwise disturb grass areas, or in any way injure or impair the natural beauty or usefulness of any area.

(Prior Code, Ch. 1 § 15)  Penalty, see § 10.99

 

 

§ 97.04  WILD ANIMALS, BIRDS AND THE LIKE.

      

       (A)  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.

 

       (B)  No person shall give or offer or attempt to give to any animal any known noxious substances.

(Prior Code, Ch. 1 § 15)  Penalty, see § 10.99

 

 

§ 97.05  OVERNIGHT PARKING.

 

       Overnight parking or camping is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Director of Parks.

(Prior Code, Ch. 1 § 15)  Penalty, see § 10.99

 

 

§ 97.06  SANITATION.

 

       (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 the waters.

 

 

       (B)  Refuse and trash.  No person shall have brought in or shall 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 the 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 the property disposed of elsewhere.  Glass bottles and containers of every type are expressly prohibited.

(Prior Code, Ch. 1 § 15)  Penalty, see § 10.99

 

 

§ 97.07  TRAFFIC.

 

       (A)  State motor vehicle laws apply.  No person shall fail to comply with all applicable provisions of the state motor vehicle traffic laws in regard to equipment and operation of vehicles, together with the regulations are contained in this section and other ordinances.

 

       (B)  Enforcement of traffic regulations.  No person shall fail to obey all traffic officers and park employees, the persons being hereby authorized to direct traffic whenever needed in the parks and on the highways, streets or roads immediately adjacent thereto in accordance with the provisions of these regulations and any supplementary regulations as may be issued subsequently by the Director of Parks.

 

       (C)  Obedience to traffic signs.  No person shall fail to observe carefully all traffic signs indicating speed, direction, caution, stopping or parking, and all other signs posted for property 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 10 miles per hour, except upon those roads as the Director of Parks may designate by posted signs for faster travel.

 

       (E)  Vehicle operation confined to roads.  No person shall drive any vehicle on any area except the designated park roads or parking areas, or any other areas as may on occasion be specifically designated as temporary parking areas by the Director of Parks.

 

       (F)   Parking. 

 

               (1)   No person shall park a vehicle in other than an established or designated parking area, and this use shall be in accordance with the posted directions thereat and with the instructions of any park attendant who may be present.  In the event there are no designated parking spaces in a given area, then no parking is available and none shall be permitted.

 

               (2)   No person shall double-park a vehicle on any road or parkway unless directed by a park official.

 

 

 

       (G)  Bicycles. 

 

               (1)   No person shall ride a bicycle on other than a vehicular road or path designated for that purpose.  A bicyclist shall be permitted to wheel or push a bicycle by hand over any grass area or wooded trail or on any pathway reserved for pedestrian use.

 

               (2)   Bicyclists shall, at all times, operate their machines with a reasonable regard for the safety of others, signal all turns, and comply with all state traffic laws related to the operation of bicycles.

(Prior Code, Ch. 1 § 15)  Penalty, see § 10.99

 

 

§ 97.08  RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

 

       (A)  Hunting and firearms.  No person shall hunt, trap or pursue wildlife at any time.  No person shall use, carry or possess firearms of any description, including 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 or fire blank cartridges or any kinds of trapping device.  Shooting into park areas from beyond park boundaries is forbidden.

 

       (B)  Picnic areas.  No person shall picnic or lunch in a place other than those designated for that purpose.  Activities in these 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.

 

       (C)  Availability of fireplaces, tables and benches.  No person shall violate park regulations for use of the individual fireplaces together with tables and benches which follows generally the rule of “first come, first served.”

 

       (D)  Nonexclusive use presumed except by special permit.  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 of Parks.

 

       (E)  Duties of picnicker.  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.

 

       (F)   Games.  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 forms 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.

 

       (G)  Horseback riding.  No person shall ride a horse except on designated bridle trails.

 

 

       (H)  Fishing.  Pole fishing, spear fishing, or netting of any kind is prohibited in Big Rocks Park, from the Paluxy River dam to the eastern edge of the park property.

(Prior Code, Ch. 1 § 15)  (Am. Ord. 445, passed 6-9-2008)  Penalty, see § 10.99

 

 

§ 97.09  BEHAVIOR.

 

       (A)  Intoxicated person.  No person shall enter or remain within any park while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. An intoxicated persons is one who is a danger to himself, herself or others by reason of introduction of alcohol and/or illegal substances into his or her body.

 

       (B)  Fireworks and explosives.  No person shall bring or have in his or her possession or set off or otherwise cause to explode, discharge or burn any firecrackers, torpedo, rocket or other fireworks or explosives of inflammable material or discharge them or throw them into any park area from land or highway adjacent thereto.  This prohibition shall not apply to fireworks display where special permit for same has been obtained.

 

       (C)  Soliciting.  No person shall solicit alms or contributions for any purpose whether public or private.

 

       (D)  Fires.  No person shall build or attempt to build a fire except in those areas and under such regulation as made or designated by the Director of Parks.  No person shall drop, throw or otherwise scatter lighted matches, burning cigarettes, cigars, tobacco paper or other inflammable material within any park area.

 

       (E)  Games of chance.  No person shall gamble or participate in or abet any game of chance.

 

       (F)   Loitering and boisterousness.  No person shall sleep or protractedly lounge on the seats or benches or other areas, 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 place.

(Prior Code, Ch. 1 § 15)  Penalty, see § 10.99

 

 

§ 97.10  MERCHANDISING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS.

 

       (A)  Merchandising.  No person shall expose or offer for sale any article or thing, or station or place a stand, cart or vehicle for the transportation, sale or display of the article or thing.  Exception is here made as to a regularly licensed concessionaire acting by and under the authority and regulation of the Director of Parks.

 

       (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 unless in accordance with authorization of the Director of Parks.

 

 

 

       (C)  Signs.  No person shall paste, glue, tack or otherwise post any signs, placard, advertisement or inscription whatever within a park, nor shall any person erect or cause to be erected any sign whatever on any public land, or highway or roads adjacent to the park.

(Prior Code, Ch. 1 § 15)  Penalty, see § 10.99

 

 

§ 97.11  CONSUMPTION OR POSSESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSUMPTION OF

ANY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE.

 

       (A)  No person shall consume or possess for the purpose of consumption in any park any alcoholic beverage within the city limits of Glen Rose, Somervell County, Texas.

 

       (B)  For the purpose of this section, certain terms and words are hereby defined:

 

               ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE.  Alcohol and any beverage containing more than 0.5% of alcohol by volume which is capable of use for beverage purposes, either alone or when diluted.

 

               POSSESSION.  In the immediate custody, care or control of the person.

(Prior Code, Ch. 1 § 15)  Penalty, see § 10.99

 

 

§ 97.12  ENFORCEMENT.

 

       (A)  Officials.  The Director of Parks and other authorized personnel shall, in connection with their duties imposed by law, diligently enforce the provisions of this chapter.

 

       (B)  Ejectment.  The Director of Parks and other authorized personnel shall have the authority to eject from the park any person acting in violation of this chapter.

 

       (C)  Seizure of property.  The Director of Parks and other authorized personnel shall have the authority to seize and confiscate any property, thing or device in the park used in violation of this chapter.

(Prior Code, Ch. 1 § 15)

 

 

§ 97.13  BIG ROCKS PARK:  HOURS OF OPERATION AND RESTRICTIONS.

 

       (A)  The gate at Big Rocks Park shall be opened to the public at 8:00 a.m. and closed at 10:00 p.m. daily, unless otherwise dictated by inclement weather or other emergency as may be declared by the Mayor or the City Superintendent.

 

 

       (B)  It shall be unlawful for any person to enter any portion of Big Rocks Park designated as restricted or closed, or to enter any area during the hours of the day when such area is not open to the public, or to use the facilities in a wasteful or damaging manner.

 

       (C)  The City Superintendent shall have the authority to waive hours of operation restrictions in Big Rocks Park for such special activities as may be deemed appropriate.

(Ord. 429-A, passed 6-11-2007)  Penalty, see § 10.99

 

 

  Note: Every effort is made to insure the information provided on these pages is timely and correct. However, users should keep in mind that this is provided only as a public convenience. In any case where legal reliance on information is required, the official records of the City of Glen Rose should be consulted. City Hall's phone number is (254) 897-2272.