La Mesa Municipal Code Ch. 9.08 Rules Governing Park and Recreation Areas

Sections:

It is hereby declared unlawful for any person to do any of the acts hereinafter specified within the exterior boundary lines of any park or recreation area in the city:

To maintain or exhibit any gambling table or other instrument of gambling, or to participate or play or wager or be in any game which is played, conducted, dealt or carried on with cards, dice, or other device, or with money, chips, shells, credit or other representative of value.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005)

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005)

For any male person over eight years of age, unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, to enter or use any toilets or restrooms for women or for any female person over eight years of age, unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, to enter or use any toilets or restrooms for men in public park.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005)

To distribute, circulate, give away, throw or deposit in or on any said parks or plazas any handbills, circulars, pamphlets, tracts, dodgers, papers or advertisements ("materials"); or post or affix to any tree, fence or structure situated within any such park or plaza any such materials. However, notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing sentence, persons may express themselves on noncommercial topics, and offer noncommercial materials, provided that they do so in a peaceful and nonaggressive manner, which does not block or impede the normal flow of pedestrian and vehicle traffic and does not involve the use of sound amplifying devices. Materials may be offered to others upon the following conditions: (1) the offer is not made in an aggressive or intimidating manner; (2) no payment or contribution is required for the materials (donations may be requested); (3) any indication of noninterest must be immediately honored, without debate, argument or intimidation; (4) materials must be offered personally, that is, not by means of machine or device; (5) the materials may not be of such a nature as to pose a danger to the public health, safety or welfare based upon their physical nature and without regard to the message content; (6) persons offering materials may not give the impression, by attire, word, or otherwise, that they are official or authorized employees, agents or representatives of the city of La Mesa; (7) materials may not be offered to persons under the age of eighteen years, unless a parent or legal guardian is present and consents. In addition, persons may display signs bearing noncommercial messages in accordance with La Mesa Municipal Code Sections 15.12.060 and 15.12.065.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005)

Unless expressly authorized by the issuance of a city permit, it shall be prohibited to sell or offer for sale any merchandise, article or thing whatsoever, or to practice, carry on, conduct or solicit for any trade, occupation, business or profession.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005: Ord. 2012-2824, § 1, July 10, 2012)

To cut, break, injure, deface or disturb any tree, shrub, plant, rock, building, fence, bench, table or other structures, apparatus or property; or to pluck, pull up, cut, take or remove any shrub, bush, plant, or flower; or to mark or write upon, paint or deface in any manner, any building, monument, fence, bench or other structure.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005)

To throw, leave or deposit any bottles, cans, broken glass, paper, rubbish, refuse or waste material of any kind in any place, except in containers for such purposes.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005)

Repealed by 2020-2878, § 2; January 28, 2020.

It shall be prohibited for any person to smoke a cigarette, cigar, or smoke or chew any other tobacco-related product, or use an electronic smoking device; or to dispose of cigarette butts, cigar butts, or chewing tobacco, or any other tobacco-related waste, or electronic smoking device waste (e.g. disposable electronic cigarettes, or batteries and cartridges within fifty feet of a playground. The distance shall be measured from the edge of any concrete, wood, plastic, or other fencing material border of the playground or, if no border exists, from the nearest piece of playground equipment or attraction.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005: Ord. 2014-2833 § 4; August 12, 2014)

To leave or park any automobile, motorcycle or other self-driven vehicle on any park or plaza property, excepting as such place or places as are provided for and designated as places for the leaving or parking of automobiles, motorcycles or other self-driven vehicles.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005)

To clean, wash, or polish, or to make other than emergency repairs upon any automobile, motorcycle or self-driven vehicles.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005)

To drive an automobile, motorcycle, or other self-driven vehicle, as defined in Section 9.04.040 of this title on any sidewalk, path, field, or turfed area in a city park, except on clearly marked roadways and parking lots, unless given express permission by department of parks and recreation staff as part of an approved use permit.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005; Ord. 2025-2919, § 1, July 22, 2025)

To drive an automobile, motorcycle, or other self-driven vehicle upon any park or plaza or property at any speed in excess of the limitations established by ordinances of the city of La Mesa.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005)

To bring, leave, turn loose or allow to go any horse, cow, sheep, goat, donkey, swine, dog, fowl, or exotic animal of any kind in or upon such park or plaza; to allow any dog on a leash or otherwise in a "designated lot area"; provided, however, this section shall not apply to dogs which are in special areas of parks designated and posted for such purposes, and so long as the regulations with respect to the use of such areas are complied with. Further, this section shall not apply to dogs accompanying an unsighted person, disabled person, or police officer, or dogs participating in a function authorized by a special permit.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005)

It shall be unlawful to allow any animal, except a certified assistance dog, to enter or be on any city owned or operated athletic field and any accessory facilities serving or related to the use.

(Ord. 2010-2807, § 1; May 11, 2010)

Repealed by Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (part); September 27, 2005.

No person shall play or practice golf or swing any golf club within any park within the city, except in areas designated for such specialized use.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005)

Individuals or groups of individuals are prohibited from being in or upon all municipal parks between the hours of ten p.m. and six a.m., except for Harry Griffen Park, and said hours shall be between one hour after sunset and six a.m. for said park, except an individual or group of individuals may apply for a written permit for extended hours for any park from the director of parks and recreation. The individual or group is authorized to be in the park for the hours set forth in said permit.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005)

No individual or group of individuals shall fly or operate any type of model aircraft, including rockets, whether motorized or nonmotorized, with or without remote control in any city park, except for rubberband-powered aircraft, or a hand-launched, nonremote-controlled model glider, each weighing three ounces or less.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005)

No person shall use, transport, carry, fire, or discharge any firearm, air gun, archery device, slingshot, or explosive device of any kind within a city park or recreational area.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005)

A use permit shall be required for any group of twenty-five or more persons, for any individual or group of any size bringing alcohol into a park, or for any individual or group utilizing a piece of temporary recreational equipment, structures, or attraction within a park. Temporary recreational equipment or attractions may include, but are not limited to, party jumps, merry-go-rounds, carnival rides, or other attractions not part of permanent facility amenities. Permit applications should be made not less than thirty days in advance of the requested date of use.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005)

Camping is prohibited in all parks and recreational areas. Camping is defined as the use of park and recreational areas for living accommodation purposes such as sleeping activities, or preparations to sleep, including the laying down of bedding for the purpose of sleeping; or storing personal belongings, including, but not limited to, clothing, sleeping bags, bedrolls, blankets, sheets, luggage, backpacks, kitchen utensils, cookware, and similar material, or making any fire or using any tents or other structure for sleeping or carrying on cooking activities, or living in a parked vehicle.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005)

Any individual, group or organization which abuses the privilege of special permit use of outdoor park and recreation facilities will be deprived of using them at any future date.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005)

It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision of this chapter. A violation of any of the provisions or failing to comply with any mandatory requirements of this chapter shall constitute an infraction and shall be subject to the provisions of the general penalty clause as set out in Section 1.01.080 of the code of the city of La Mesa, except as provided in Section 1.01.130 of this code.

(Ord. 2005-2760 § 5 (Exh. 5); September 27, 2005)