La Puente Municipal Code Ch. 3.78 Skate Park

Sections:

• 3.78.010 Purpose.

• 3.78.020 Definitions.

• 3.78.030 Protective gear required.

• 3.78.040 Prohibited conduct.

• 3.78.050 Signage and posting requirements.

• 3.78.060 Other rules and regulations.

• 3.78.070 Violations and penalties.

The purpose of this chapter is to provide regulations governing the conduct of the City's public skate park facility users and to insulate the City from liability associated with potential injury arising from skate park users' participation in an inherently hazardous recreational activity. (Ord. 21-970, § 2 (part), 2021)

For the purpose of carrying out the purpose of this chapter, words, phrases, and terms used herein shall have their ordinary meaning, unless otherwise indicated as follows:

"Department" means the City of La Puente's Department of Community Services.

"Director" means the Director of Community Services, or his/her designee.

"Other wheeled recreational device" means nonmotorized bicycles, scooters, inline skates, roller skates, or wheelchairs being used for recreational purposes.

"Public skate park facility" means any public facility or structure that is designed for, owned, operated, and maintained by the City of La Puente, in use of skate boards and other wheeled recreational devices are permitted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, and which has been designated as a "public skate park facility" by resolution of the City Council.

"Skate activity" means the use of a skate board or other wheeled recreational device.

"Skate board" means any platform of any composition or size to which two or more wheels are attached and which is intended to be ridden or propelled by one person standing or kneeling upon such platform and containing no steering apparatus.

"Skater" means any person engaged in a skate activity. (Ord. 21-970, § 2 (part), 2021)

All skaters must wear a safety helmet, elbow pads, and kneepads while engaging in any skate activity in a public skate park facility. All such protective gear must be functional and protective, properly sized, and designed for their intended use at said facility. (Ord. 21-970, § 2 (part), 2021)

It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the following activities at a public skate park facility:

(a) No person shall be allowed to perform any skate activity at times other than those established by the director or his/her designee.

(b) No person shall use a public skate park facility for uses other than skate activity.

(c) No person shall use or enter the fenced area of a public skate park facility unless they wear proper safety equipment, including a helmet, elbow pads, and kneepads. All such safety equipment must be functional and protective, properly sized, and designed for its intended use at the public skate park facility.

(d) No person shall ride or use any items other than skate boards or other wheeled recreational device.

(e) No person, other than a skater, is permitted within the skating surface of any public skate park facility, except that spectators may sit or stand in areas designated for that purpose.

(f) No person shall ride or use any skate board or other wheeled recreational device in a reckless manner or with willful disregard for the safety of persons or property, or cause anyone with such items to be ridden or used in such a reckless manner.

(g) No person shall place, affix or utilize any obstacles or other materials within a public skate park facility that are not affixed thereto by the department for recreational purposes.

(h) No skate activity is permitted on the curbs, sidewalk, fences, railings, seating area, or walls of any City-owned structure.

(i) No person shall conduct organized activities, events, or competitions on any public skate park facility without the prior written approval from the Director or his/her designee.

(j) A public skate park facility shall not be used if a hazardous condition exists, including but not limited to, inclement weather conditions and significant cracks, breaks or other irregularities in the skating surface of a public skate park facility.

(k) No person shall litter in a public skate park facility. All persons using a public skate park facility must place any trash, cans, bottles, papers, or waste of any kind they create or bring to a public skate park facility in refuse containers provided by the City. If no refuse container is provided by the City, each person shall be responsible for removing and disposing of such items in an appropriate manner.

(l) No person shall possess or use alcohol or drugs in the public skate park facility.

(m) No person shall use a public skate park facility while under the influence of alcohol or drugs that would impair the person's judgment or motor skills.

(n) No person shall allow or cause glass containers of any kind to be brought into any public skate park facility.

(o) No person shall allow or cause graffiti or tagging in or around any part of the public skate park facility.

(p) No person shall allow or cause any animal of any kind to be brought into a public skate park facility. (Ord. 21-970, § 2 (part), 2021)

In order to provide reasonable notice to the public, the Director or his/her designee shall place and post signs in one or more conspicuous and visible area(s) of the public skate park facility, designating the facility, structure or area as a public skate park, specifying the rules and regulations established pursuant to this chapter, and the activities described as prohibited in this chapter. (Ord. 21-970, § 2 (part), 2021)

The City reserves the right to eject anyone from the public skate park facility at any time for any reason. The Director may set forth any other rules and regulations for the use of a public skate park facility which he/she deems appropriate, provided that signs describing such rules and regulations are placed and posted pursuant to this chapter. (Ord. 21-970, § 2 (part), 2021)

(a) Any violation of this chapter may be punishable as either a misdemeanor or an infraction.

(b) Repeat violators (i.e., having three or more violations) may be suspended or prohibited from using the facility.

(c) Repeat violations of this chapter may also constitute a public nuisance and may be abated by the City through civil process by means of restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or in any other manner provided by law for the abatement of such nuisances. (Ord. 21-970, § 2 (part), 2021)