eLaws | eCases | Texas Statutes | Texas Administrative Code | Texas Courts | Counties & Cities of Texas | Code of Federal Regulations | United States Code |
 Santa Fe
 Code of Ordinances
 Chapter 6. HEALTH & SANITATION

  § 10. PARK REGULATIONS

Latest version.

  • A.

    PURPOSE

    These rules are established as written guidelines for the use of City of Santa Fe parks and recreational facilities. These rules are intended to secure and preserve the fullest enjoyment of parks and recreational facilities to a wide range of park patrons. Failure to abide by these rules shall be cause for removal. The commission of offenses under local ordinances or state law shall be cause for arrest.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    B.

    APPLICABILITY

    These rules apply to and in all parks and recreational facilities or areas belonging to the City or managed by or under the authority of the City. These rules shall not apply to City, State or Federal agents or officials in the performance of official duties.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    C.

    USE OF PARK FACILITIES

    Park facilities generally are available for public use on a first-come, first-served basis except for areas that require rental fees or that have previously been reserved.

    Reservations Fees - Patrons shall not use or occupy a facility or area for which a reservation fee has been paid, when such use conflicts with the use by persons holding the reservation. Reservations shall be made in accordance with the Park Department's reservation policies. Confirmation of the reservation shall be displayed on request to city employees charged with supervision or patrolling of parks.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    D.

    OCCUPANCY LIMIT

    The Parks and Recreation Department may establish and post maximum occupancies for any park area or facility.

    Patrons shall not enter into or remain in an area or facility for which an occupancy limit has been established when such action will have the effect of exceeding the established occupancy limits.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    E.

    CLOSED AREA(S)

    (1)

    The City Manager or his designee may close park areas or facilities to the public entry or otherwise restrict use until such time as the area or facility can be made available for public use.

    (2)

    Except in emergency circumstances, notice of closure shall be posted and patrons shall not enter closed or restricted areas.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    F.

    DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR AND EJECTION FROM PARK AND CITY FACILITIES

    Patrons engaged in disruptive, destructive or hazardous conduct may be warned and asked to stop such conduct immediately by any designated city employee. Under circumstances where a patron's conduct is unlawful, or poses an imminent threat of injury or prevents the public enjoyment of the park or facility, any designated city employee may eject such patrons by any reasonable means, including arrest.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    G.

    VENDING

    Persons shall not conduct the commercial sale or offer to sell any goods, wares, drinks, food or items nor render or offer to render any service for hire, at any park, or city facility except as authorized by contract, or permit properly issued by the City of Santa Fe.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    H.

    ABANDONED OR UNATTENDED PROPERTY

    No person shall abandon a vehicle or other personal property at any park or city facility. Abandoned property shall be removed, impounded, and sold in conformance to City ordinances or state laws or as may be determined by the City.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    I.

    PEACE AND QUIET

    (1)

    Patrons shall preserve the peace and quiet enjoyment of the parks by observing all city ordinances and state laws governing noise and amplified sound.

    (a)

    Patrons shall not use offensive language, make unreasonable noise, discharge weapons or fireworks, or engage in offensive gestures or conduct constituting disorderly conduct under state law (Texas Penal Code 42.01).

    (b)

    Patrons shall not operate noise-making devices in violation of local ordinances prohibiting unreasonable noise.

    (2)

    Patrons shall observe and comply with noise restrictions posted at individual facilities.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    J.

    WEAPONS AND FIREARMS

    (1)

    Patrons shall not carry or possess weapons or firearms while in parks or city facilities.

    (2)

    No patron may display a firearm or other weapon at any park or city facility in a manner calculated to alarm or threaten anyone. (Texas Penal Code 42.02)

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    K.

    WILDLIFE

    All wildlife within the boundaries of any City of Santa Fe park is protected. No person may harm, harass, hunt, trap or remove any animal, including mammals, fish insects, birds, reptiles, or other living creature from any park facility except upon written approval of the City Manager.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    L.

    PLANT LIFE

    All plant life within the boundaries of any City of Santa Fe park facility is protected. Patrons shall not willfully mutilate, injure, destroy, thrash, or remove any live tree, shrub, vine, wildflower, grass, sedge, fern, moss lichen, fungus or any other member of the plant kingdom or portion thereof, except upon approval by the Parks Department. No person shall collect or harvest dead wood or plants, or portions thereof, except upon written approval of the City Manager. The collecting of pecan nuts on the ground is allowed; the thrashing of pecan trees is prohibited.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    M.

    ANIMALS

    (1)

    Persons bringing pets or other animals into outdoor park areas shall keep them under confinement or direct control. Leads on leashes used to control animals shall not be more than six feet long.

    (2)

    Patrons shall not permit a pet or other animal to remain unattended or create a disturbance or a hazard.

    (3)

    Patrons shall not bring into, or permit to range at any park facility domestic fowl, horse, swine, sheep, goat, or other livestock except upon approval by the City Manager.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    N.

    FIRES, SMOKING, FIREWOOD OR FIREWORKS

    (1)

    No person may light, build, or maintain a fire on any of the City of Santa Fe park facilities, except in a facility or device provided, maintained or designated for such purposes.

    (2)

    During periods of extreme fire hazard, the Fire Marshal may prohibit or restrict fires and smoking in designated areas.

    (3)

    No person may cut, gather, or collect wood or other combustible material at any City of Santa Fe park facility for use as firewood or fuel, except for material designated for this purpose by the Parks Department.

    (4)

    The possession or use of any kind of firework is prohibited in all City of Santa Fe parks and facilities.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    O.

    CAMPING AND OVERNIGHT USE

    No person may camp or sleep overnight at any City of Santa Fe park facility.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    P.

    MOTOR VEHICLES

    No person may operate a motor vehicle at any park facility except upon roads, driveways, parking areas, and areas designated open to motor vehicles except as authorized by the Parks Department.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    Q.

    PARKING

    (1)

    No person shall park a motor vehicle on parkland except in designated areas, or within twelve feet of a public park road, if not otherwise prohibited.

    (2)

    A vehicle or trailer parked in such a manner as to create a hazardous or unsafe condition may be impounded, consistent with City Ordinance and State Law.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    R.

    WALKING TRAIL USE

    No person may operate or use a motor vehicle, including a motorcycle, motorbike, mini-bike, or bicycle on a trail or path within a City of Santa Fe park. Skateboards and roller skates are not allowed on park trails or sidewalks.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    S.

    ADHERENCE TO PARK SIGNS

    All persons shall comply with the signs and markers installed by the Parks Department.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    T.

    ALCOHOL

    Unless authorized by the City of Santa Fe, the sale, possession with intent to sell or the consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in all city parks and facilities.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    U.

    GLASS CONTAINERS

    Glass bottles and containers are prohibited in city parks.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    V.

    SPECIAL RULES FOR SPECIFIC PARKS FACILITIES

    Each park or city facility may develop rules and regulations that address problems specific to that facility, which shall be in writing and approved by the City Council. Patrons shall comply with all rules and regulations posted at individual facilities or for special events.

    (Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)

    X.

    PENALTY

    Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon convections thereof, shall be punished as provided for in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Code of Ordinances, Section 5, General Penalty for Violations of Code. Further, defacement or destruction of public property, criminal mischief, and nuisance violations will be prosecuted under the Texas State Penal Code or such other county or city ordinances as shall apply.

(Ordinance No. 02-2009 of March 12, 2009, Sec. 1)