(a) Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
(1) "Board" means the five person Parks and Recreation Board which serves as an advisory board to Council on park and recreational activities.
(2) "Council" means the Council of Pickerington.
(3) "Manager" means the Manager of Pickerington.
(Ord. 81-42. Passed 10-6-81.)
(4) "Noxious or deleterious materials" means sewage, floor drainage, industrial wastes, septic tank overflow, cesspool overflow, privy vault drainage, kitchen wastes, motor oil, anti-freeze, or any other liquid wastes of objectionable character as prohibited in Sections 1066.03 and paragraph (d)(2) hereof.
(Ord. 90-37. Passed 7-3-90.)
(5) "Park" means any and all land devoted to recreational activities or open space which is owned or controlled by the Municipality.
(6) "Person" includes any individual, group or corporation.
(b) Defacement, Destruction, Removal or Disturbance of Property and Equipment. No person shall injure, deface, destroy, disturb or remove any part of any park or any building, sign, equipment or other property found therein.
(c) Defacement, Destruction, Removal or Disturbance of Natural Features. No person shall injure, deface, destroy, disturb or remove any trees, flowers, shrubs, or other vegetation, or the fruit or seed thereof, nor shall any rock or mineral be removed, injured, destroyed or disturbed.
(d) Littering, Dumping, Garbage and Noxious Material. No person, without the specific written consent of the Manager, shall bring into, leave behind or dump any material of any kind in any park, except the refuse, ashes, garbage and other material of a picnic, camp or other permitted activity, and such material shall be deposited in receptacles or pits provided for such purposes.
(1) No person shall, either within or outside a park, place or permit to be placed in any river, brook, stream, ditch or drain that flows into or through a park, any noxious or deleterious material which may render park waters harmful or inimical to the public health or to wildlife, vegetation or aquatic life; which may prevent, limit or interfere with the use of such waters for domestic, industrial or agricultural purposes; or which may lessen to an unreasonable degree the use and enjoyment of such waters for recreational or other park uses.
(2) No person shall, either within or outside a park, discharge into any pipe, drain, sewer, ditch or natural tributary watercourse that flows into, through or onto such park, any liquid or aqueous waste which shall fail to comply with current State and/or Federal standards for such effluent, now in effect or as may from time to time be amended. (See Section 1066.03)
(e) Firearms or Other Dangerous Weapons. No person, except park employees or other law enforcement officers or other persons authorized under Ohio law, shall carry a firearm of any description, air or gas gun, bow, crossbow, or other missile-throwing device, within any park, or discharge any firearms, fireworks, explosive substances, or air or gas guns onto or over such park, or bring into such park any pistol, switchblade or hunting knife, dagger, metal knuckles, slingshot or other dangerous weapon.
(f) Disorderly Conduct.
(1) Disturbing the peace. No person shall disturb the peace and good order in any park by fighting, quarreling or wrangling with loud voice or shouts, threatening violence to the person or property of others or engaging in riotous clamor or tumult.
(2) Public address devices, radios, phonographs, tape recorders and musical instruments. No person shall cause a public address device, radio, phonograph, tape recorder or musical instrument to be used in any park at a volume audible beyond their immediate area.
(g) Special Events. No individual or organization shall conduct, sponsor, or promote any special event, public meeting, concert, theater, athletic event, or other public activity in a park without prior authorization of Council or the Manager. No event or activity sponsored or promoted by any individual or organization shall be permitted if, in the opinion of the Board, it shall constitute hazards and dangers to the personal safety of the participants or other park visitors; endanger peace and good order in the park; interfere with the regular and normal use of the facilities and activities by park visitors; or is inconsistent with the use of the park for park purposes.
(h) Advertising, Signs and Commercial Enterprises. No signs or circulars are permitted without the permission of the Manager, nor shall any articles be offered for sale within a park without permission of the Manager.
(i) Compliance With Orders of Park District Employees.
(1) Orders by employees. Park employees are authorized to issue reasonable orders or directives to park visitors when, in their opinion, an activity being conducted by the visitors constitutes a hazard, endangers the personal safety of the participant or other park visitors or endangers peace and good order in the park.
(2) Failure to obey. No person shall refuse to comply with any reasonable order or directive given in the performance of duty by any park employee, or other authorized agent, nor shall any person commit a nuisance or obstruction or use abusive, profane or insulting language towards such employees of the park. Upon continued disregard of such lawful order, directive, or prohibition, such person may be ejected from the park.
(j) Camps and Camping. No person shall establish or maintain any camp or other temporary lodging or sleeping place within a park without a specific written permit from the Manager.
(k) Fires. No person shall start a fire in a park, except small fires for cooking in park grills or privately owned grills, or fires in the places or designated areas approved by park employees.
(l) Hunting, Trapping, Collecting or Molesting Wildlife.
(1) General prohibition. No person shall hunt, collect, pursue with dogs, trap or in any other way molest any wild bird or other animal found within the confines of a park, rob or molest any nest or den, or take the eggs or young of any bird or other animal.
(2) Fishing hours and prohibited equipment. The Board may close such park waters as it deems advisable to fishing and/or the use of certain fishing equipment, and shall so post them. In all other park waters, fishing shall be permitted subject to the statutes of the State. No fishing license is required.
(Ord. 81-42. Passed 10-6-81.)
(m) Pets.
(1) Pets limited. No person shall bring any pets into a park, except domestic dogs and cats, which shall be secured by a leash not more than six feet in length and be under the immediate control of such person at all times. Such person shall clean up after his or her dog and/or cat and shall carry a device for such purpose.
(Ord. 2000-11. Passed 3-21-00.).
(2) Releasing of plants and animals prohibited. No person shall release any wild or domestic animal or plant, or culture any seed or vegetation of any type, in any park without the written permission of the Manager.
(n) No Boating, Canoeing or Rafts. No boating, canoeing, rafts, sailboats or other floating craft is allowed to be used in park property unless authorized in writing by the Manager.
(o) Swimming. Swimming is prohibited within any park.
(p) Driving on Closed Roads or Drives. No person shall drive upon or along any park road or drive which has been closed and posted with appropriate signs or barricades. Park employees shall have authority to order roads or drives closed during the process of construction, reconstruction or repairs or when, in his or her opinion, weather conditions render travel either unsafe or unduly destructive of the road.
(q) Motorcycles, Mopeds, All Terrain Vehicles. No person shall operate a motorcycle, moped or all terrain vehicle in any park except on approved roadways designed for vehicular traffic.
(r) Parking. No person shall park or store any motor car, motor vehicle, bicycle, wagon or other vehicle within any traveled roadway in any park or at any location where posted signs prohibit parking except in emergencies, or upon any sod, gravel or other surface not specifically designated as a "parking area".
(s) Alcoholic Beverages and Drugs or Hallucinogens Prohibited. No person shall have in his or her possession or consume any alcoholic beverages or have in his or her possession or use any illegal drugs or hallucinogens while on park premises.
(t) Park Hours. Park hours shall be specifically posted at main entrances. All activities shall cease at these posted times unless express written permission has been given for later or earlier hours by the Manager.
(Ord. 81-42. Passed 10-6-81; Ord. 2011-23. Passed 6-7-11.)