Chapter 9.25
CITY PARK REGULATIONS
Sections:
9.25.070 Garbage and other refuse.
9.25.090 Dangerous equipment and activities.
9.25.120 Hours of use – Sleeping and camping.
9.25.130 Hours of park closure.
9.25.160 Marking, injuring, or disturbing any structure.
9.25.170 Discretion of department director.
9.25.010 Purpose.
The parks of this city are established and maintained as areas of recreation, relaxation, and enjoyment for the public. It is intended that they shall be regulated and used to permit enjoyment by a maximum number of people engaged in widely diverse interests and activities as may be practical within the limits of space, design, and accommodations available in each park unit. Limitations may be required to ensure the use of park areas in safety and to protect the rights of others in surrounding areas. [Ord. 695 § 1, 1977.]
9.25.020 Definitions.
A. Department. The term “department” refers interchangeably to the city of Junction City’s community services department and public works department.
B. Park. The term “park” refers to and includes the following types of parks:
1. Community Park. These parks are intended to meet the recreation needs of a large section of the community, as well as those of the surrounding neighborhood. They are areas of diverse uses, both active and passive, including swimming, tennis, walking, and picnicking, to name a few.
2. Neighborhood Park. These parks serve as the recreational and social focus of the neighborhood. They provide the day-to-day recreational needs of the neighborhood, including field games, court games, individual sports, play for small children and picnicking. The emphasis is on informal active and passive recreation. Neighborhood parks should be accessible to the neighborhood population with safe access for bicycles and pedestrians.
3. Pocket Parks/Play Lots. These parks are used to address limited, isolated or unique recreational needs and can include both passive and active recreation uses. Pocket parks may simply be open lots within neighborhoods or may be more developed with a limited number of amenities.
4. Private Park/Recreation Facility. These are parks and recreation facilities that are privately owned yet contribute to the city’s overall park system.
5. School Park. These parks are owned by the school district, and residents and/or organized groups are allowed to use the school grounds during non-school hours.
6. Special Use Park. These parks are dedicated to a special use.
7. Trails and Connectors. These parks provide a system of open spaces that use public dedications, easements, and rights-of-way to provide pathways for pedestrians and bicyclists. [Ord. 1280 § 1 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. 1210 § 1, 2012; Ord. 695 § 2, 1977.]
9.25.030 Motorized vehicles.
Motorized vehicles, such as autos, trucks, motorcycles, motor scooters, go-carts, etc., shall operate, stop, or park only upon designated roadways or within designated parking areas. Exceptions will include:
A. Maintenance equipment when operated by authorized personnel.
B. The loading and unloading of materials, supplies or equipment as authorized by the department. [Ord. 1210 § 1, 2012; Ord. 695 § 3, 1977.]
9.25.040 Horses and ponies.
No person shall ride or lead any horse or pony in the park, except upon a roadway or designated parking area or designated bridle path. [Ord. 695 § 4, 1977.]
9.25.050 Fire.
No person shall build or maintain any fire in a park; except in fire rings or fireplaces as provided by the city or in a stove or barbecue unit where picnic areas are provided. No person shall take firewood from any park for his or her own personal use unless authorized by the department. [Ord. 1210 § 1, 2012; Ord. 695 § 5, 1977.]
9.25.060 Commercial activity.
A. No person shall sell or attempt to sell any merchandise or service or operate any concession in a park without permission of the department director (“director”). The director may issue a permit authorizing the selling of merchandise or services or the operating of a concession in a park if the director determines, in his or her reasonable discretion, that it is in the best interests of the city. The director may include reasonable conditions in said permit and he or she may revoke a permit if the terms of the permit are violated, or he or she may deny a permit to a person or persons who have violated the terms of a permit within the previous year.
B. No person who holds a valid permit issued by the director under this section shall sell merchandise or services within a park in violation of any conditions stated in that permit. [Ord. 1210 § 2, 2012; Ord. 695 § 6, 1977.]
9.25.070 Garbage and other refuse.
A. No person shall discard or dispose of any garbage or other refuse in a park, except in a receptacle provided for such garbage and other refuse.
B. No person shall take any garbage or other refuse into a public park for the purpose of disregarding or disposing of such garbage or other refuse. [Ord. 695 § 7, 1977.]
9.25.080 Motor vehicle speed.
The designated speed for motor vehicles upon the roadways within any park is 10 m.p.h. unless otherwise posted. No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon any roadway in a park at a speed greater than permitted by the basic rule as provided in ORS 487.465. [Ord. 695 § 8, 1977.]
9.25.090 Dangerous equipment and activities.
No person shall use or engage in any activity that the director determines, in his or her reasonable discretion, will unreasonably interfere with or endanger other persons. Such activities include, but are not limited to, the use of golf clubs, a discus, javelin or shot put, or any aircraft. Such activities will be allowed only as provided in JCMC 9.25.100. The use of archery equipment, rockets or missiles powered by fuel or mechanical means, or any firearm is strictly prohibited and shall not be allowed under JCMC 9.25.100. [Ord. 1210 § 1, 2012; Ord. 695 § 9, 1977.]
9.25.100 Special use areas.
The director is authorized and directed to set aside, establish, alter and/or discontinue special use areas in one or more of the parks. These special use areas would include but not be limited to activities such as horse or pony riding, Junior Olympics, bicycle riding, camping activities, motorcycle riding or any one or more of those activities otherwise prohibited under JCMC 9.25.090. Before establishing, altering or discontinuing such a special use area, the director shall determine, in his or her reasonable discretion, priority of need for such an area and whether the activity may be carried on without unreasonable interference or danger to other persons.
If the director establishes a special use area, the director may designate such hours or days of usage, the particular activity or activities which are permitted and such conditions as he or she determines to be reasonably required for the safety and convenience of persons and property. He or she shall mark the boundaries of the special use area and post such signs and warnings concerning that special use area as he or she deems reasonably appropriate. No person shall use or injure any special use area, except for the purposes of one or more of the activities permitted in that special use area under any conditions specified by the director. [Ord. 695 § 10, 1977.]
9.25.110 Sound.
A. No person shall disturb the peace in any neighborhood park, community park or special use park between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. For purposes of this section, “disturbing the peace” is defined as including, but not being limited to, the following:
1. Playing a musical instrument;
2. Playing a radio, tape recorder or television;
3. Shouting;
4. Engaging in any organized games.
B. No person shall use any device to amplify sound in any park unless a valid permit has been issued by the director under subsection (C) of this section.
C. The director may issue a permit authorizing the use of one or more designated devices to amplify sound by one or more designated persons in a designated area of a park on a designated date between specific hours if he or she finds, in his or her reasonable discretion, that the number of persons to be entertained or served by the use of sound can be adequately and reasonably served only by the amplification of sound. The director may include conditions in such a permit which he or she deems reasonable and the director may revoke a permit if the terms of the permit are violated or he or she may deny a permit to a person or group of persons who have violated the terms of a permit within the previous year.
D. No person who holds a valid permit issued by the director under this section shall amplify sound within a park in violation of any conditions stated in that permit. [Ord. 1210 § 2, 2012; Ord. 695 § 11, 1977.]
9.25.120 Hours of use – Sleeping and camping.
A. No person shall sleep in any park between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., except as provided in subsection (C) of this section.
B. No person shall use any tent, shelter-half, vehicle, camper or trailer as a shelter for housing or sleeping in any park area, except as provided in subsection (C) of this section.
C. The director may, in his or her reasonable discretion, issue permits for the use of tents, shelter-halves, vehicles, campers or trailers as shelters for housing or sleeping in parks and for any overnight sleeping in parks between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. [Ord. 695 § 12, 1977.]
9.25.130 Hours of park closure.
No person shall enter or use any park during hours of closure from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. without a permit to do so from the director. [Ord. 1210 § 1, 2012; Ord. 695 § 13, 1977.]
9.25.140 Liability.
All persons to whom an exclusive use permit has been granted must agree in writing to hold the city harmless and indemnify the city from any and all liability for injury to persons or property occurring as a result of the activity sponsored by permittee. Said persons shall be liable to the city for any and all damages to parks, facilities and buildings owned by the city, which results from the activity of permittee or is caused by any who participate in said activity. [Ord. 695 § 14, 1977.]
9.25.150 Flora.
No person other than a duly authorized city employee in the performance of his or her duty or persons participating in city-approved activities shall dig, remove, destroy, injure, mutilate or cut any trees, plants, shrubs, blooms or flowers, or any portion thereof growing in any park. [Ord. 1210 § 3, 2012; Ord. 695 § 15, 1977.]
9.25.160 Marking, injuring, or disturbing any structure.
No person other than a duly authorized city employee in the performance of his or her duties shall:
A. Cut, break, injure, deface, or disturb any rock, building, cage, pen, monument, sign, fence, bench, structure, apparatus, equipment or property in a park;
B. Mark or place thereon any mark, writing or printing;
C. Attach thereto any sign, card, display or other similar device, except as authorized by permit issued by the director. [Ord. 695 § 16, 1977.]
9.25.170 Discretion of department director.
Whenever this chapter makes a reference to the exercise of reasonable discretion by the director, he or she shall take into account the use and enjoyment of the parks for the maximum number of people and the general purpose set forth in JCMC 9.25.010. [Ord. 695 § 17, 1977.]
9.25.180 Penalty.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of up to $550.00. [Ord. 1210 § 1, 2012; Ord. 695 § 18, 1977.]