(A) Great Parks of Hamilton County provides designated indoor and outdoor reserveable areas such as banquet centers, lodges, meeting rooms, picnic areas, shelters, and wedding settings which may be reserved for private functions. Reservations for these reservable areas may be made through and confirmed by Great Parks of Hamilton County. Great Parks of Hamilton County also provides general use areas such as open lawn areas, plazas, trails, and trailheads for the public’s use and enjoyment.
(B) No group of 50 or more persons shall hold a special event, such as but not limited to a walk-a-thon, running race, bicycle race, boating event, fishing event, sporting event, athletic competition, rally, or other public gathering in a general use area of Great Parks of Hamilton County without a special use permit. Applications for permits shall be obtained from and issued by Great Parks of Hamilton County.
(C) The event notification process is designed to assist Great Parks of Hamilton County in understanding the needs of the applicant in order to plan for appropriate visitor support services, planning for public safety and resource protection needs and to make visits to the park enjoyable for all. Great Parks of Hamilton County will issue permits on a first come, first served basis provided that the applicant satisfies each of the following objective factors:
(1) The applicant submits a legible, completed application form;
(2) The requested location, date, and time are available and the size and type of the requested event does not exceed the carrying capacity of the requested area;
(3) The applicant obtains any necessary permits or licenses required by law such as those mandated by the Board of Health or the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Liquor Control;
(4) Permits shall not be unduly denied. However, the following factors shall be taken into consideration when making the determination to either grant or deny a permit:
(a) Prior commitment of the site on the date requested;
(b) Suitability of the site requested based on the size and nature of the proposed activity;
(c) Availability of alternate sites;
(d) Potential injury or damage to park area resources;
(e) The activity’s compatibility with the purposes of natural, historic, wilderness, or commemorative areas;
(f) Whether the activity would impair the peace and tranquility maintained in the Great Parks of Hamilton County;
(g) Whether the activity would interfere with naturalists, visitor services, other program activities or with the administrative activities of Great Parks of Hamilton County;
(h) Whether the activity would impair the operation of public use facilities or services of Great Parks of Hamilton County or its concessioners, holders of commercial use authorizations, or contractors;
(i) Whether the activity will present a clear and present danger to the public health and safety;
(j) Whether any application is complete and all fees paid;
(k) Whether the applicant has allowed sufficient time for the GPHC to plan for and coordinate the requested activity;
(l) The willingness and ability of the applicant to cover expenses related to the activity, including but not limited to first aid, traffic control, security, and utilities.
(m) Whether the applicant has knowingly provided material falsehoods relative to the application or proposed event;
(n) Whether the applicant has a record of unpaid damages from prior events;
(o) Whether the applicant has a record of previous violations of the Great Parks of Hamilton County permits, rules, or by-laws.
(D) Any person whose permit is denied may file a written appeal to the Chief Executive Officer of the Great Parks of Hamilton County. The Chief Executive Officer shall review the appeal and within ten business days after receipt of the written appeal, provide written notice of his or her decision to the appellant. The Chief Executive Officer may deny or condition a permit for good cause, including without limitation that the activity or event authorized by the permit is being conducted in violation of this chapter or represents a nuisance or a threat to the public health or safety.
(E) The Chief Executive Officer or his or her designee may consider a request to waive the fees for the use of any Great Parks of Hamilton County park area. In considering the request the Chief Executive Officer can consider the following factors:
(1) Whether the request is for off-season or prime-time use;
(2) Whether the purpose is nonprofit, charitable, or for profit;
(3) The size and complexity of the event;
(4) There is an offer to perform a needed service for the Great Parks of Hamilton County in exchange for use;
(5) Some other valuable exchange is offered for use;
(6) The request is from another governmental unit or agency;
(7) Whether the request conflicts with another fee generating request.
(Prior by-law § 17) (Amended 12-5-2014) Penalty, see § 130.99