The following regulations are adopted by Council for the preservation of good order within Vandalia City parks, for the protection and preservation of the parks under the jurisdiction of the City and for the control of property and natural life therein.
(a) Definitions. As used in this section:
(1) "Animal" means a quadruped, bird, fish, reptile, amphibian or insect.
(2) "Council" means the elected Vandalia City Council.
(3) "Director" means the Parks and Recreation Director, the Assistant Parks and Recreation Director or any other person designated by the City Manager.
(4) "Fireworks" means any combustible or explosive compositions, or any substance or combination of substances or article prepared for purpose of producing a visible or an audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration or detonation.
(5) "Fish" or "fishing" means to take or attempt to take fish by any method, including placing, setting, drawing or using any device commonly used to take fish, whether resulting in such taking or not.
(6) "Hunt" means to pursue, shoot, kill, follow after or on the trail of, lie in wait for, shoot at or wound any animal while employing any device commonly used to kill or wound animals, whether such acts result in such killing or wounding or not.
(7) "Motor vehicle" means any vehicle propelled or drawn by power other than muscular power, including a motorized bicycle, motorcycle or motor scooter.
(8) "Park" means the lands and facilities owned, leased and/or otherwise controlled under the authority of the City of Vandalia Parks and Recreation Department.
(9) "Park Division" means the Vandalia City parks.
(10) "Park waters" means any lake, pond, reservoir, stream, channel, lagoon or other body of water, or any part thereof.
(11) "Person" means any individual, company, partnership, corporation or association, or any combination of individuals, or any employee, agent or officer thereof.
(12) "Police officer" shall mean a police officer appointed by the City of Vandalia and/or any other law enforcement officer having authority to enforce the regulations of the Park Division.
(13) "Vehicle" means everything on wheels or on treads.
(b) Hours.
(1) Each park shall be open to the public from sunrise to one-half hour after sunset every day, except that at specified times selected areas shall be permitted to remain open for more than one-half hour after sunset as designated by the Director. The Public Safety Director, the Director, the Chief of Police or his or her designate shall be authorized to close a park or any part thereof if he or she determines that public safety or other emergency requires such closing.
(2) No person shall enter into or remain in an area of a park at a time when such area is not open to the public.
(c) Facilities. The use of park facilities shall be as determined and designated by the Director. No person shall use park facilities other than for the purpose designated by the Director. The Director may restrict or prohibit certain uses of park facilities when there is a reasonable chance that any such use might result in damage to park property and/or might endanger park visitors.
(d) Scheduling.
(1) Where the use of facilities requires scheduling, reservations and scheduling shall be authorized by the Director.
(2) A permit is required for all team sport activities, sport instruction activities or any other organized activity not part of the regular Parks and Recreation sponsored programs as permitted by the Vandalia Facilities Use Policy adopted April 15, 2005, as may be amended from time to time.
(3) A permit is required for the use of any park picnic shelter. Shelter permits are issued to City residents only.
(e) Fees. Fees for permits shall be established by the Director of Parks and Recreation and approved by the City Manager.
(f) Fires.
(1) No person shall start or maintain a fire in a park except in a gasfired grill or a charcoal burner, or in special areas designated by the Director for campfires or for fire-building training by organized groups.
(2) No person shall start or maintain a fire in a park and leave the vicinity of the fire without fully extinguishing the fire.
(3) No person shall deposit or scatter coals or hot ashes in any place, in a park, other than in receptacles provided by the Park Division for that purpose.
(4) No evidence of a fire shall be permitted to remain in any park.
(5) No person shall burn wood found in a park.
(g) Horses.
(1) No person shall ride or permit a horse in a park other than in areas or on bridle paths designated by the Director to be for horseback riding.
(2) No person shall ride or permit a horse in a park in such a manner as to endanger the rider or any other person or any property.
(h) Pets (Dogs, Cats and Other Animals).
(1) No person shall bring, permit, have or keep in a park any dog, cat, household pet or other animal destructive to birds and other wildlife, except that dogs and cats are permitted if they are controlled at all times on a leash not more than eight feet long. No pets or other animals shall be allowed to become obnoxious or disturbing to any user of park facilities.
(2) Any person bringing a pet or other animal into a park shall be required to remove animal waste from any walkway, picnic area or other areas of the park.
(3) No person shall herd, graze, drive or permit to run at large within a park any cattle, horse, mule, donkey, goat, swine, sheep or other animal, or any poultry or other fowl, without the written consent of the Director which shall state therein the specific area to be used, and without first paying a fee, if any is required, as may be set by the Director.
(4) No person shall manhandle, maim, kill or otherwise mistreat or abuse any animal, fish or bird within park property.
(5) No person shall release or abandon any animal, fish or bird upon or adjacent to park property without prior approval of the Director.
(i) Vehicles.
(1) Permitted areas. Motor vehicles shall be permitted only in established parking areas.
(2) Designated areas. Vehicles, including bicycles, rollerblades, skateboards, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATV) or other wheeled or tracked vehicles may only be operated in areas designated by the Director for such purposes. No person, except a person acting in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, shall drive or operate any motorized bicycle, scooter, skateboard, or any other vehicle, except a bike, on City bike paths or leisure paths without written consent of the Director.
(3) Bicycles. Bicycles are not permitted on pedestrian walkways alongside of baseball/softball fields at the Vandalia Sports Complex on Stonequarry Road during such time that the baseball/softball fields are in use.
(4) Reckless operation. No person shall operate any type of vehicle in a park without due regard for the safety of persons or property.
(5) Speed. No person shall operate a vehicle in a park in excess of the posted speed limit.
(6) Parking. Parking is permitted in designated parking areas only. No person shall park any motor vehicle, bicycle, or other vehicle within any traveled roadway within the park or any location where posted signs prohibit parking. Parking is prohibited on grass, gravel or other surface not specifically designated as a parking area. The Recreation Director may designate special parking areas during special events.
(7) After-hours parking. No person shall park or leave a vehicle in an area of a park at a time when such area is not open to the public.
(8) Night operation. No person shall drive or take any motor vehicle or bicycle within a park at night unless headlights and taillights are lighted.
(9) Driving restrictions. No person shall operate any motor vehicle in any area of a park other than an established roadway or parking area, except as authorized by the Director.
(j) Water Areas.
(1) No person shall fish in park waters except where designated by the Director.
(2) No person shall fish in park waters without a valid license if such license is required by the State of Ohio.
(3) No person shall swim or ice skate in park waters except in areas designated by the Director for such purpose.
(4) No person shall operate, float or attempt to float a canoe, kayak, rubber craft, sailboat, rowboat, motorboat or other passenger watercraft of any kind in park waters.
(k) Camping. No person shall camp in any park unless he or she does so with the written permission of the Director and in the area designated for such camping by the Director.
(l) Skiing and Sled-Riding. No person shall ski or sled-ride in an area of a park except where designated by the Director.
(m) Golfing.
(1) No person shall play or practice golf in any park except in areas designated by the Director.
(2) Access to Cassel Hills Golf Course is limited to persons possessing a current valid greens fee ticket or having special permission from the Golf Course management or the Director. Walking or jogging on the Course cart paths or walkways will only be allowed when the Course is not open for play. Access to other areas of the Course by any person is strictly forbidden.
(n) Model Rockets and Radio-Controlled Model Aircraft. No person shall fly or otherwise use or control model rockets or radio controlled aircraft of any kind within a park without obtaining a permit therefor from the Director.
(o) Removal or Destruction of Property.
(1) No person shall remove any property, or part thereof, which is owned, leased or otherwise controlled by the Park Division, from it's location in a park.
(2) No person shall write upon, cut, mutilate, deface or damage in any manner any building, equipment or other property, or part thereof, which is owned, leased or otherwise controlled by the Park Division.
(p) Removal or Destruction of Natural Resources.
(1) No person shall dig, move or carry away any rock, stone, sod, sand, earth, tree, wood, shrub, plant, flower or nut or other seed in a park.
(2) No person shall trample upon, injure, destroy, break, cut, chop or deface in any manner any stone, tree, shrub, plant or flower in a park.
(q) Protection of Animals.
(1) No person shall hunt, trap or in any other way abuse, molest, injure, pursue or destroy an animal in a park, except that fishing shall be permitted as provided in subsection (j) hereof.
(2) No person shall move, injure or destroy any bird nest or eggs or any animal habitation in a park.
(r) Deposit of Materials.
(1) No person shall deposit or discard in or adjacent to a park any paper, garbage, fireplace or stove ashes, refuse or other noxious or waste material, other than in receptacles provided for the disposal of such materials. Discarding materials in dumpsters located on City property is prohibited.
(2) No person shall bring into a park any garbage, ashes, refuse, grass clippings or other noxious or waste materials, organic or nonorganic, and deposit or discard the same in or adjacent to a park.
(3) No person shall, while in a park, discharge, throw, drop, or cause to flow, into park waters, any noxious or deleterious substance, either solid or liquid, which renders such waters harmful or inimical to the public health or animal life.
(s) Erecting and Attaching Signs. No person shall erect any sign in a park or attach any sign to property owned or controlled by the Park Division, nor shall any person display any placard, notice, advertisement, circular, banner or statement of any kind in a park other than on a vehicle. This section shall not apply to any sign erected by the Park Division or any sign, placard, advertisement, circular, banner or statement of any kind erected, attached or displayed with the permission of the Director.
(t) Loitering. No person shall loiter, delay or stand idly around in the vicinity of a restroom located in a park and no person shall enter facilities in a park provided for the exclusive use of the opposite sex.
(u) Intoxicating Liquors and Alcoholic Beverages.
(1) No person shall bring into a park, or sell, give away or drink on park property, any intoxicating liquor, alcoholic beverage or illegal drug of any kind.
(2) Alcoholic beverages may be permitted during special events and/or at specified locations with the approval of the Director.
(v) Firearms, Weapons, Explosive Devices and Tools.
(1) No person in a park shall carry on or about his or her person any bows and arrows, air or gas guns, missiles, sling shots, or other missile throwing devices; provided, however, that bows and arrows may be carried in areas designated by the Director for archery purposes.
(2) No person shall shoot or discharge in a park, or into a park, firearms of any description, bows and arrows, air or gas guns, missiles, sling shots or other missile-throwing devices, provided, however, that bows and arrows may be used in areas designated by the Director for archery purposes.
(3) No person shall carry on or about his or her person in any park an axe, hatchet, saw or knife with a blade length that is longer than three inches.
(4) No person shall carry on or about his or her person in any park an explosive device designed or specially adapted to cause physical harm to persons or property by means of an explosion, such as a bomb, blasting cap or detonator.
(w) Fireworks. No person shall bring into a park, or have in his or her possession in a park, or discharge, ignite or explode in a park, any fireworks.
(x) Commercial Activities.
(1) No person shall sell or offer for sale any article, privilege or service in a park, unless such sale or offer is pursuant to a contract with the Park Division.
(2) No person shall beg, peddle or solicit in a park.
(y) Exceptions. The following acts and conduct are exempt from the provisions of this section: Acts and conduct of police officers, officials and employees of the Park Division, or contractors of the Park Division, to the extent necessary for performance of their authorized duties.
(z) Penalties.
(1) Ejection. Police officers and/or Parks and Recreation personnel are authorized to order any person violating any of the provisions of these regulations to leave the park. No person shall fail to obey such an order.
(2) Fines and imprisonment. Whoever violates any of the provisions of these regulations is guilty of a minor misdemeanor for a first offense and shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) and may be denied future access. For each subsequent offense, such person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree and shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisoned not more than sixty days, or both.
(3) Applicability of ordinances and statutes. These regulations shall not be construed to preclude the applicability of any provision of the Vandalia City ordinances or the Ohio statutes unless such provision is consistent with the terms of these regulations. All park, City, State and Federal ordinances apply.
(Res. 95-R-26. Passed 7-3-95; Ord. 08-36. Passed 1-5-09; Ord. 19-29. Passed 12-2-19.)