The Director is authorized to promulgate responsible opening and closing hours for park facilities. No person shall enter, remain in or camp in or on any park during the hours or any part of the hour(s) the park is closed without a permit from the Director. This policy shall establish a curfew between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. in all public parks.
(A) No person shall remain or camp in any public park between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. of the following day.
(B) The prohibitions contained in division (A) of this section will not apply to;
(1) Special use facilities, as may be posted by the Department extending use hours;
(2) Any person attending a meeting, entertainment event, recreation activity, dance or similar activity in the park, provided the activity is sponsored or co-sponsored by the Department of Parks and Community Services or a permit therefor, has been issued by the Department of Parks and Community Services;
(3) Any person exiting the park immediately after the conclusion of any activity set forth in division (B)(2) of this section;
(4) Any peace officer or employee of the city while engaged in the performance of his or her duties;
(5) Any individual experiencing homelessness, unless it is confirmed that there is available shelter as defined in § 8.36.010.
(C) Pursuant to the exemption in subsection (B)(5), camping equipment may not be affixed or attached to, or constructed upon or with, or inside of or otherwise located within 100 feet from, any trees, fences, designated trails (including but not limited to the Santa Fe trail), walkways, parking lots or park amenities and structures. Camping equipment is limited to a single person use and is only allowable during the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
(D) Camping pursuant to this section must not be in the same site within the park for more than one consecutive night.
(E) Each park subject to closure during specified hours pursuant to this chapter shall be properly and appropriately posted. Signs setting forth the hour and time of closure and reopening of the park as provided in this chapter shall be posted at every entranceway to the park. The signs shall be not less than one square foot in area and shall contain lettering, not less than one-half inch in height, identifying the hours during which the park shall be closed and further advising the public that entry to the park or remaining on the facilities grounds between the designated hours is a violation of the law. In the event that there are no natural or man-made barriers which prohibit access to entry upon a park or recreation facility subject to this chapter, signs shall also be posted at intervals of every 300 feet along the perimeter of the park accessible to the public
(F) Camping is not allowed at the following locations at any time due to the reason stated:
Not under City Ownership | Sensitive Uses at or Nearby |
Not under City Ownership | Sensitive Uses at or Nearby |
Bender Park | Centennial Park |
Mulcahy Park | Tyler Park |
Prosperity Sports Park | Topham Park |
Cesar Chavez Park | Zumwalt Park |
Cypress Park | Meitzenheimer Community Centre |
Live Oak Park | Elk Bayou Soccer Complex |
Del Lago Park | Tower Square located at 195 N. K St., Tulare, CA 93274 |
(G) Camping is not allowed on, or within 100 feet, of any installed structure or permanent equipment at any location.
(H) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to the penalties set forth in § 1.61.040(B).
(1995 Code, § 8.36.240) (Ord. 2021-06, passed 1-18-2022; Ord. 2022-04, passed 5-17-2022)