Chapter 4.01 PARKS AND RECREATION*

Park property or park facility shall mean and include all city-owned or controlled parks, public squares, public gardens, playgrounds, athletic complexes, community centers, museums, trails, and all drives, parkways, bodies of water, docks, piers, moorage floats, beaches, and parking lots or garages contained therein. Park property or park facility shall also include all other parks and recreational areas, developed or undeveloped, owned by the city of Kent or under the management and control of the city of Kent for park purposes.

(Ord. No. 4246, § 1, 6-6-17)

4.01.010 Prohibited activities – Generally.

No person shall use, place, or erect any signboard, billboard, bulletin board, post, pole, or device of any kind for advertising on any park properties. No person shall attach any notice, bill, poster, sign, wire, rod, or cord to any tree, shrub, railing, post, or structure within any park properties. No person shall without the written permission of the director of the parks and recreation department place or erect on any park property a structure of any kind.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.201), 8-16-88. Formerly Code 1986, § 2.30.201)

4.01.015 Sex discrimination in community athletics programs – Prohibited.

A. In accordance with RCW 35A.21.350, 49.60.500, and 49.60.505, as now enacted or later amended, it is the policy of the city of Kent that no community athletics program for youths or adults, either operated, conducted, or administered by the city or a third party who uses city facilities, may discriminate against any person on the basis of sex.

B. A community athletics program shall have the meaning ascribed to it by RCW 49.60.500, as now enacted or later amended.

C. Any questions regarding this policy shall be directed to the city’s recreational and cultural superintendent, 220 Fourth Avenue South, Kent, WA 98032, (253) 856-5100.

(Ord. No. 3943, § 1, 2-2-10)

4.01.020 Same – Damaging property.

No person shall remove, destroy, mutilate, or deface any structure, monument, statue, vase, fountain, wall, fence, railing, vehicle bench, shrub, tree, fern, plant, flower, lighting system, sprinkling system, or other property lawfully on any park property.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.202), 8-16-88. Formerly Code 1986, § 2.30.202)

Cross reference(s) – Rewards for information leading to arrest of persons damaging public property, ch. 9.03.

4.01.030 Same – Animals.

A. No person shall allow or permit any animal under that person’s exclusive control to run at large on any park properties, or enter any lake, pond, fountain, or stream therein.

B. No person shall, in any manner, tease, annoy, disturb, molest, catch, injure, kill, or throw any stone or missile of any kind at or strike with any stick or weapon any animal, bird, or fowl. No person shall fish on the park properties except at areas designated by the parks and recreation department. No person shall feed any fowl in the park except in designated areas.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.203, 2.30.205), 8-16-88. Formerly Code 1986, §§ 2.30.203, 2.30.205)

Cross reference(s) – Animal control, ch. 8.03.

4.01.040 Same – Discharging weapons, fireworks.

No person shall shoot, fire, or explode any fireworks, firecrackers, torpedo, or explosive of any kind, or carry any weapon, excluding firearms, or shoot, discharge, or fire any firearm, air gun, bow and arrow, BB guns, or use any slingshot or any other weapon on any park properties except a law enforcement officer in the line of duty.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.204), 8-16-88; Ord. No. 3318, § 1, 10-15-96. Formerly Code 1986, § 2.30.204)

Cross reference(s) – Displaying or exhibiting weapons, § 9.02.060; fireworks, ch. 13.05.

4.01.050 Same – Soliciting.

No person shall take up collections or act as or play the vocation of solicitor, agency, peddler, fakir, mendicant, beggar, strolling musician, organ grinder, exhorter, barker, showman, or bootblack; or operate or use any loudspeaker or other mechanical means of amplifying sound on any park properties without a written permit from the director of the parks and recreation department except for public address systems at sporting events.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.206), 8-16-88. Formerly Code 1986, § 2.30.206)

Cross reference(s) – Solicitors, ch. 5.07.

4.01.060 Same – Circuses, etc.

No person shall hold, operate, or conduct a circus, carnival, or traveling exhibition on any park property except such activities as may be a regular part of the parks and recreation program conducted by the parks and recreation department.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.207), 8-16-88. Formerly Code 1986, § 2.30.207)

4.01.070 Reserved.

Editor’s note – Ord. No. 3247, § 1, adopted Nov. 7, 1995, repealed § 4.01.070, which pertained to watercraft.

4.01.080 Prohibited activities – Speed limits, vehicles, and horses.

A. No person shall ride or drive any bicycle, tricycle, motorcycle, motor vehicle, horse, or pony over or through any park at a speed in excess of fifteen (15) miles per hour. Nor shall any person ride or drive any bicycle, tricycle, motorcycle, motor vehicle, horse, or pony over or through any park, except within, along, and upon the park drives, parkways, or park boulevards; however, a person may ride a bicycle or tricycle on park trails, unless the parks, recreation, and community services director prohibits bicycle or tricycle use and posts a sign advising of the prohibition.

B. No person shall stand or park any vehicle, except in designated areas or in accordance with signs, striping, or other methods which make clear the appropriate method or manner of parking. Improperly parked vehicles, including vehicles parked on sidewalks, vehicles left parked over twenty-four (24) hours, vehicles not associated with the use of the park, and unauthorized vehicles left in the park between dusk and dawn, are subject to the penalties provided for in KCC 4.01.220(A)(2) and may be towed away at the expense of the owner.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.211), 8-16-88; Ord. No. 3406, § 1, 7-7-98; Ord. No. 3886, § 2, 8-5-08. Formerly Code 1986, § 2.30.211)

Cross reference(s) – Traffic code, ch. 9.36.

4.01.090 Same – Camping.

No person shall camp on any park property except at places set aside for such purposes by the parks and recreation department and so designated by signs or as allowed by a permit from the director of the parks and recreation department.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.212), 8-16-88. Formerly Code 1986, § 2.30.212)

4.01.100 Same – Littering.

A. No person shall throw any refuse, litter, broken glass, crockery, nails, shrubbery, trimmings, junk, or advertising matter in or on any park properties or deposit any such material therein, except in designated receptacles.

B. No person shall deposit any refuse, not generated in parks, in any receptacle within any park or upon any park properties.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.214, 2.30.215), 8-16-88. Formerly Code 1986, §§ 2.30.214, 2.30.215)

Cross reference(s) – Litter control, ch. 8.04.

4.01.110 Same – Competitions.

No person shall engage in, conduct, or hold any trials or competitions for speed or endurance of hill climbing involving any vehicle, boat, aircraft, or animal in any park.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.216), 8-16-88. Formerly Code 1986, § 2.30.216)

4.01.120 Same – Fires.

No person shall build any fires in any park except in areas designated by the parks and recreation department.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.217), 8-16-88. Formerly Code 1986, § 2.30.217)

Cross reference(s) – Fire prevention codes, ch. 13.02.

4.01.130 Same – Alcoholic beverages.

No person shall bring into or consume in or on any park property or facility any alcoholic beverages without a written permit from the director of the parks and recreation department.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.218), 8-16-88. Formerly Code 1986, § 2.30.218)

4.01.135 Smoking, vaping, or tobacco use in parks prohibited.

It is unlawful for any person to smoke, vape, or use tobacco products in or on any park property or park facility, excluding the Riverbend Golf Course facility. This prohibition includes both noncombustible products, like e-cigarettes or other vaping devices that produce smoke or vapor, and dipping tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, or snus; and combustible products, like paper cigarettes, cigarillos, or cigars, pipes, and hookahs. If the product emits smoke, or vapor, or contains tobacco, it is prohibited.

(Ord. No. 4246, § 2, 6-6-17)

4.01.140 Same – Golf.

No person shall play golf except in areas designated by the parks and recreation department.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.219), 8-16-88. Formerly Code 1986, § 2.30.219)

4.01.150 Use of facilities.

Park facilities shall be used for their designed or intended purposes, and it shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to interfere with or prevent any person from using a park facility for its designed purposes.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.220), 8-16-88. Formerly Code 1986, § 2.30.220)

4.01.160 Hours.

It is unlawful to remain in any park between dusk and dawn, or during those hours as otherwise posted by the city, except for activities authorized by the parks and recreation department.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.221), 8-16-88; Ord. No. 3158, § 1, 3-1-94. Formerly Code 1986, § 2.30.221)

4.01.170 Permitted and scheduled activities – Rules.

Permits and schedules, officially issued or distributed by the director of the parks and recreation department, shall have priority over other activities. Participants shall yield to the holder of such permit or schedule. Participants with or without a permit or schedule shall abide by all rules and regulations and shall not unreasonably interfere with other persons’ use of or the city’s maintenance or operation of city park facilities. A copy of all rules and regulations are filed with the city clerk.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.213), 8-16-88; Ord. No. 3587, § 1, 1-15-02. Formerly Code 1986, § 2.30.213)

4.01.180 Meetings.

Repealed by Ord. No. 3587.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.209), 8-16-88. Formerly Code 1986, § 2.30.209)

4.01.190 Sales of refreshments.

No person shall sell refreshments or merchandise without the written permission of the director of the parks and recreation department or a concession contract with the parks and recreation department.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.208), 8-16-88. Formerly Code 1986, § 2.30.208)

4.01.200 Reserved.

Editor’s note – Ord. No. 3247, § 1, adopted Nov. 7, 1995, repealed § 4.01.200, which pertained to a ban on motorboats on Lake Fenwick.

4.01.210 Traffic regulations.

A. At all times and at all locations within any park, pedestrians shall enjoy the right-of-way over any motorized or unmotorized vehicle, bicycle, tricycle, animal, skates, or skateboard.

B. No person shall ride, drive, or operate any bicycle, skates, or skateboard in any area within any park where such activity is prohibited by means of posted notice. The director of the parks and recreation department is authorized to place the appropriate notice or notices at such times, and/or within such areas of any park which shall make it unlawful to ride, drive, or operate any bicycle, skates, or skateboard within such designated areas, according to the posted notice.

(Ord. No. 2794, § 1(2.30.223), 8-16-88. Formerly Code 1986, § 2.30.223)

Cross reference(s) – Traffic code, ch. 9.36.

4.01.220 Penalties.

A. Civil infraction.

1. Except as provided in subsections (A)(2) and (B) of this section, a violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute a class 1 civil infraction in accordance with RCW 7.80.120(1)(a), as currently enacted or hereafter amended.

2. A violation of either KCC 4.01.080(B) or 4.01.135 shall constitute a class 3 civil infraction in accordance with RCW 7.80.120(1)(c), as currently enacted or hereafter amended.

3. Each separate day, or portion thereof, during which any violation occurs shall constitute a separate violation.

B. Misdemeanor. Any person who violates KCC 4.01.020 or 4.01.040 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $5,000 or by imprisonment not to exceed one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each separate day or portion thereof during which such violation occurs shall constitute a separate violation.

(Ord. No. 2567, § 3; Ord. No. 3247, § 2, 11-7-95; Ord. No. 3886, § 3, 8-5-08; Ord. No. 4246, § 3, 6-6-17. Formerly Code 1986, § 2.30.300)