Blue Lake Municipal Code Ch. 12.04 Public Park Regulations

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein:

"Caretaker"

means the person or persons who are responsible for the care and maintenance of the park.

"City"

means the City of Blue Lake.

"Park system"

means Perigot Park, Rodeo Grounds and Tennis Court; and Tot Lot or any other area in the City, owned or used by the City and devoted to active and passive recreation.

"Perigot Park"

means that area in the park system of the City located at the intersection of South Railroad Avenue and Chartin Road. This includes the picnic areas, ballfields and park building (Assessor's Parcel No. 25-132-01).

"Person"

means any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, civic, fraternal, non-profit or organization of any kind.

"Picnic area"

means that area located in Perigot Park and any other area that is normally used for picnics and are equipped with picnic tables.

"Rodeo Grounds"

means that park area in the park system of the City located on Chartin Road East, which includes the tennis court area (Assessor's Parcel No. 25-141-01).

"Tot lot"

means that park area in the park system of the City located on the corner of 4th and I Streets (Assessor's Parcel No. 25-027-07).

"Vehicle"

means any wheeled conveyance, whether motor-powered, animal drawn, or self-propelled. The term shall include any trailer in tow of any size or kind. Exception is made for baby carriages or wheelchairs, mobility chairs, or mobility scooters being required or necessary for personal transportation, or vehicles in the service of the City.

(Ord. 547, 7/22/2025)

No person shall:

A. Wilfully mark, deface, injure, tamper with, or displace or remove, any buildings, bridges, tables, benches, fireplaces, railings, bleachers, ballfields, water lines, paving or paving materials or other public utilities or parts thereof, signs, notices or placards whether temporary or permanent, monuments, stakes, posts, or other boundary markers, or other structures or equipment, facilities or park property or appurtenances whatsoever, either real or personal.

B. Litter, soil or defile restrooms. No person over the age of eight years shall use restrooms and washrooms designated for the opposite sex.

C. Dig or remove any soil, rock, stones, trees, shrubs or plants, down timber or other wood or materials or make any excavations by tool, equipment or any other means or agency.

D. Construct or erect any building or structure of whatever kind, whether permanent or temporary in character, or run or string any public service utility into, upon or across the land, except on special written permission issued hereunder.

E. Go upon any lawn or grass areas where prohibited by the Director or where the prohibition is indicated by proper and legible signs.

F. Erect or maintain any overhead wires through the park without prior written permission.

G. Damage, cut, carve, transplant or remove any tree or plant or injure the bark, or pick the flowers, or seeds of any tree or plant; nor shall any person attach any rope, wire or other conveyance to any tree or plant. A person shall not dig or otherwise disturb grass areas, or in any other way injure or impair the natural beauty or usefulness of any area.

H. Climb any tree or walk, stand or sit upon any monuments, vases, fountains, fireplaces, railings, tables, fences or upon any other property not designated or customarily used for such purposes.

I. Hunt, molest, harm, frighten, trap, chase, kill, tease or shoot or throw missiles at any animal, reptile or bird, nor shall he or she remove or have in his or her possession the young offspring of any wild animal or the eggs or nest of any bird or young of any reptile or bird.

J. Give or offer or attempt to offer any animal or bird tobacco, alcohol or other known noxious substances.

A. Any person utilizing the Blue Lake Bike & Skate Park may drive or ride any nonmotorized bicycle, skateboard, scooter, inline skate, roller skate, unicycle, wheelchair, or mobility assistance device. The above list of nonmotorized devices are referred to individually in this section as a "wheeled recreational device." All vehicles or devices not included herein are prohibited from use within the Blue Lake Bike & Skate Park.

B. Any person riding a wheeled recreational device at the Blue Lake Bike & Skate Park must wear a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads.

C. The Blue Lake Bike & Skate Park shall have physical signs posted at the facility which are provided to afford reasonable notice that any person riding a wheeled recreational device in this facility must wear a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads.

D. Any person failing to wear a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads while riding any wheeled recreational device at the Blue Lake Bike & Skate Park will be subject to citation as follows:

1. First Violation. Written warning issued by the Director of Parks & Recreation stating date of violation; included with a copy of the ordinance codified in this section.

2. Second Violation. Written warning issued by the Director of Parks & Recreation stating date of violation, $250 fine, and an included copy of the ordinance codified in this section.

3. Third and Subsequent Violations. Written warning issued by the Director of Parks & Recreation stating date of violation, $500 fine, an included copy of the ordinance codified in this section, and six month restriction of park access and/or usage.

E. Violations of this section shall be exempt of the provisions of Blue Lake Municipal Code Section 12.04.130. All other provisions of Chapter 12.04, Public Park Regulations, shall apply to this Section 12.04.025.

(Ord. 547, 7/22/2025)

No person in the park shall:

A. Throw, discharge, or otherwise place or cause to be placed in the waters or any fountain, pond, stream or any other body of water in or adjacent to the park or any tributary, stream, storm sewer or drain flowing into the waters any substance, matter or things, liquid or solid, which will or may result in the pollution of the waters.

B. Have brought in or shall dump, deposit, or leave any bottles, broken glass, ashes, paper, boxes, cans, refuse or trash; nor shall there be placed in any waters in or contiguous to any park, or left anywhere on the grounds thereof, but shall be placed in proper receptacles where these are provided, all other such rubbish or waste shall be carried away from the park by the person responsible for its presence, and properly disposed of elsewhere.

No person in the park shall:

A. Fail to comply with all applicable provisions of the Vehicle Code of the State of California in regard to equipment and operation of vehicles together with such regulations as are contained in this chapter and ordinances of the City of Blue Lake regulating traffic.

B. Fail to obey all police officers and park caretakers who are hereafter authorized and instructed to direct traffic whenever and wherever needed in the park in accordance with the provisions of these regulations and such supplementary regulations as may be issued subsequently by the City.

C. Fail to observe carefully all traffic signs, parking, and all other signs posted for the proper control and to safeguard life and property.

D. Ride or drive any vehicle on any area in the park system of the City, including the Perigot Park, Rodeo Grounds or Tot Lot. This subsection excludes the Blue Lake Bike & Skate Park.

E. Drive or ride any motor-driven vehicle in the park system of the City, including in Perigot Park, Rodeo Grounds or Tot Lot, or Blue Lake Bike & Skate Park.

F. Park a vehicle in other than an established or designated parking area in the park system, whether Perigot Park, Rodeo Grounds or Tot Lot, and parking shall be in accordance with the posted directions at any area and with the instructions of any attendant who may be present.

(Ord. 547, 7/22/2025)

No person in the park shall:

A. Use any portion of the picnic area or any of the buildings or structures in the park system for the purpose of holding picnics to the exclusion of other persons, except by permit only. Nor shall any person use the area and facilities for an unreasonable length of time if the facilities are crowded.

B. Leave a picnic area or any other area in the park system used for picnic or lunch before all trash and refuse has been placed in disposal receptacles where provided.

A. A permit shall be obtained from the City Clerk or the City Park and Recreation Commission for the exclusive use of any park facility or area designated for such use by the City Council or Park Commission, such as softball field, Rodeo Grounds, etc.

B. Applications. A person seeking issuance of a permit hereunder shall file an application on a form to be issued by the City Clerk or the City Park and Recreation Commission.

C. Standards for Issuance. The City shall issue a permit hereunder when it finds:

1. That the requested area of the park is available during the period for which the permit is requested.

2. That the expected attendance does not exceed the capacity of the area.

3. That the use for which the permit is sought complies with the use established for the area of the park requested.

4. That the applicant has posted, with the City, the required use fee or clean-up deposit.

D. Effect of Permit. The permittee shall be bound by all the park rules and regulations and applicable ordinances fully as though the same were inserted in the permits.

No person shall enter, remain, stay or loiter in any public park in the park system half an hour after sunset to one hour after sunrise of the following day, unless a permit has been issued to an organization to have a meeting on the park system premises or use of the park system facilities in accordance with Section 12.04.060 of this chapter.

No person in a park in the park system shall:

A. Expose or offer for sale any article or thing; nor shall he or she station or place any stand, cart, or vehicle for the transportation, sale or display of any article or thing, except any regularly licensed concessionaire acting by and under the authority and regulation of the Park and Recreation Commission.

B. Announce, advertise or call the public attention in any way to any article or service for sale or hire, except by permit.

C. Paste, glue, tack or otherwise post any sign, placard, advertisement, or inscription whatever, nor shall any person erect or cause to be erected any sign whatever in any park in the park system.

A. No person in any area in the park system shall:

1. Bring in alcoholic beverages, nor drink any alcoholic beverages at any time within the confines of the park system, except that:

a. Picnickers may use alcoholic beverages with their picnic meals in the designated picnic area in Perigot Park, provided they conduct themselves in an orderly manner.

b. By permit only, issued in accordance with Section 12.04.060 of this chapter, organizations reserving Perigot Park and Rodeo Grounds for group functions and picnics may dispense alcoholic beverages to their own members and guests.

c. By permit only, issued in accordance with Section 12.04.060 of this chapter, alcoholic beverages may be sold at certain events such as rodeos, races and dances.

d. Under no circumstances shall alcoholic beverages be used at the Tot Lot or be permitted to be sold.

2. Be under the influence of intoxicating liquor as defined in Section 647-f of the California Penal Code.

B. No person having the control or care of any dog shall suffer or permit the dog to enter or remain in any area in the park system, except that:

1. Any person who is blind may permit his or her seeing eye dog to accompany him or her to any area in the park system.

2. During the times that a rabies control clinic under the auspices of the City is held in any area in the park system, any person having control or care of any dog shall be permitted to enter and remain with the dog in such area in the park system.

3. By permit only, issued in accordance with Section 12.04.060 of this chapter, organizations which reserve an area in the park system for dog shows may permit dogs to enter or remain in such area in the park system.

C. No person having the control or care of any cattle, horse, mule, goat, sheep, swine or fowl of any kind shall suffer or permit such animal to enter or remain in any area in the park system at any time except that:

1. Horses may be allowed in, or led, or ridden at the Rodeo Ground.

2. By permit only, issued in accordance with Section 12.04.060 of this chapter, organizations which reserve an area in the park system for animal shows or fairs may permit animals to enter or remain in such area in the park system.

D. Make or kindle a fire for any purpose in any area of the park system except at places that are designated and provided for such purpose, unless prior special permission is obtained therefor.

E. Enter an area posted as "CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC," nor shall any person use, or abet the use of any area in violation of posted notices.

F. Play or bet at or against any game which is played, conducted, dealt or carried on for money, chips, shell, credit, or any other representative of value, or maintain or exhibit any gambling table or other instrument of gambling or gaming, or play any game prohibited by any ordinance of the City.

G. Sleep or protractedly lounge on the seats, or benches, or other areas, or engage in loud, boisterous, threatening, abusive, insulting, or indecent language, or engage in any disorderly conduct or behavior tending to a breach of the public peace (Sec. 415 of the California Penal Code).

H. Use, operate, or cause to be operated, any system for amplifying sound, whether for speech, music, or otherwise. As used herein "system for amplifying sound" means any device which projects or transmits sound by means of electronics; provided, however, that systems for amplifying sound, when their total output is limited to 25 watts or less (whether single or multiple channeled amplification is involved), may be used or operated in the park in conjunction with and if authorized by an exclusive permit issued by the City Clerk or Park and Recreation Commission and subject to such reasonable conditions as the Park and Recreation Commission may impose.

Any section or part of the park may be declared closed to the public by the Park and Recreation Commission at any time and for any interval of time, either temporarily or at regular and stated intervals (daily or otherwise) and either entirely or merely to certain uses, as the Park and Recreation Commission finds reasonably necessary.

The Park and Recreation Commission, Chief of Police, and all park caretakers shall enforce the provisions of this chapter.

The Chief of Police is authorized to post the park system with appropriate signs to notify the public of the provisions of this chapter.

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of an infraction and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine or not more than $50.00 for the first offense, and for a second or subsequent offense, a fine of not more than $100.00.