(a) Removal or damage of property. No person shall remove, damage or deface buildings, equipment, structures, natural features, plants, flowers or lawn areas in any park.
(b) Deposit of materials.
(1) No person shall drop or cause to be dropped or throw paper, refuse or litter on or in any park property, but shall place the same in receptacles provided for such purpose.
(2) No person shall transport any waste material for the purpose of depositing such material into park waste receptacles.
(3) No person shall erect any structures or leave any items on park property without permission from the City.
(c) Control and protection of animals.
(1) No person shall engage in hunting, trapping or otherwise endanger animals in any park.
(2) No person shall abandon any animal in any park.
(3) No person shall destroy, harm or remove wildlife from any park.
(4) No person shall bring a pet onto any park property unless such pet is controlled by a lead no more than eight feet long, bridle, or suitable cage when in any park.
(5) No person shall bring any animals, except dogs which are properly licensed and leashed or any service animal, in any park.
(6) No person shall allow a pet to use water fountains intended for human use in any park.
(7) No person shall fail to collect and properly dispose of animal droppings deposited by any dog under his or her control in any park, except guide animals under the control of visually impaired persons.
(8) No person shall feed or provide any form of food to any animal in the park other than a dog or service animal which is in their possession. No food of any kind shall be left behind in the park and all consumable items shall be removed from the park or deposited into a park waste receptacle.
(d) Conduct.
(1) No person shall be intoxicated or under the influence of dangerous or illegal drugs in any park.
(2) No person shall sell, consume or possess any illegal drugs or alcohol in any park except that the consumption of alcohol is permitted in designated areas pursuant to a special event permit or other City approval.
(3) No person shall engage in loud, boisterous, threatening, insulting or indecent language or disorderly conduct or behavior, or any act tending to breach the public peace or good order of the park, persons within the park or adjacent residences.
(4) No person shall use any park equipment except in the manner in which it is intended.
(5) No person shall resist any City official in the discharge of his or her duty, or intentionally interfere with such official in such a way as to prevent him or her from discharging his or her duties.
(6) No person shall engage in gambling or playing games of chance in any park.
(e) Fires. No person shall make or use any open fire in any park. Fires must be built in grills and must be attended to at all time assuring they are extinguished upon departure from the site.
(f) Camping.
(1) No person shall, except where signage indicates otherwise, be present in any park area between sunset and 6:00 a.m.
(2) No person shall park or permit to remain parked an automobile or other vehicle in any park between sunset and 6:00 a.m.
(g) Firearms and weapons.
(1) No person shall possess or discharge any fireworks, explosives or model rockets in any park.
(2) No person shall possess within any park area any deadly weapon, except as otherwise specifically permitted by law. The supervised use of bow and arrows is permissible in parks only through recreation programs sponsored by the City of Middletown.
(h) Commercial activities. No person shall conduct commercial activities, sell merchandise, or display any banner, flag, target, sign or device for advertising in any park.
(i) Traffic.
(1) No person shall operate or park a motor vehicle except on designated roadways and parking areas in any park.
(2) No person shall ride horses or drive all-terrain vehicles, mini or dirt bikes in any park.
(3) No person shall operate a motor vehicle without a license or in excess of the posted speed limit in any park.
(j) Water areas.
(1) No person shall engage in ice skating, ice fishing, swimming (except in City pools), wading, boating or fishing (except in designated areas) in or on any park waters.
(2) No person shall throw or send any debris into any park waters.
(3) No person shall seine or use any other commercial methods to remove fish from any waters on park property.
(k) Restricted areas.
(1) No person shall erect equipment, landscape, or make park improvements without the consent of the City of Middletown.
(2) No person shall throw or bat a hard ball except in designated areas at Smith, Lefferson and Dixie Heights Parks.
(3) No person shall play or practice golf, or hit, throw or otherwise play with a golf ball, including those made from foam or other materials, in any park.
(4) No person shall engage in snowmobiling in any park.
(5) No person shall operate a powered model airplane in any park.
(6) No person shall use skateboards, rollerblades, bikes, or scooters on park property, except on designated paths or areas intended for that sole purpose.
(7) No person shall play upon or operate any amplified musical instrument so as to disturb park patrons or the general public.
(Ord. 2002-116, passed 10-15-2002; Am. Ord. O2009-27, passed 4-21-2009; Am. Ord. O2018-56, passed 9-4-2018)