Lemoore Municipal Code Ch. 11 Public Parks and Recreational Areas

The title of this chapter shall be PUBLIC PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS. (Ord. 2008-09, 11-4-2008)

Regulating the use of city parks and city recreational areas is necessary to promote the safety, comfort and convenience of the public's use and enjoyment of any park or recreational area and the use and enjoyment of any building, structure, equipment or apparatus thereon. (Ord. 2008-09, 11-4-2008)

As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE: Alcohol, spirits, liquor, wine, beer and any liquid or solid containing alcohol, spirits, wine or beer, and which contains one-half of one percent (0.5%) or more of alcohol by volume and which is fit for beverage purposes either alone, when diluted, mixed or combined with other substances.

AMPLIFIED SOUND: Music, speech or sound projected and transmitted by electronic equipment including amplifiers.

DIRECTOR: The director of parks and recreation services of the city or his/her designated representative.

INFLATABLE STRUCTURE: Any structure filled with air or water, which is used to bounce and jump upon for recreational purposes, such as "bounce houses".

PARK: Any public area owned or controlled by the city, and used for recreational purposes.

POLICE CHIEF: The chief of police of the city or his/her designated representative.

RECREATIONAL AREA: A playground, swimming pool, recreation center, golf course, or any other area in the city, owned or used by the city and devoted to active or passive recreation. (Ord. 2008-09, 11-4-2008)

It shall be the duty of every person to see that the provisions of this chapter are observed and to call to the attention of the director, all foremen and employees in public parks, any police officer or other employee of the city, any violation thereof. (Ord. 2008-09, 11-4-2008)

All parks and recreational areas under the jurisdiction of the city, either by ownership or lease-contract for use, with the exception of the Lemoore golf course and the Lemoore High School swimming pool, shall be open to the public every day of the year between the hours of sunrise and ten (10:00) P.M.

A. From ten (10:00) P.M. to sunrise all restrooms or other facilities within the park shall be closed and locked.

B. This section shall not apply to organizations or groups which first obtain a permit from the director for night use of a city park or city recreational facility. (Ord. 2008-09, 11-4-2008; amd. Ord. 2024-09, 11-5-2024)

A. In any emergency or when the director shall determine that the public interest, public health, public morals, or public safety demands such actions, any park or recreational area or portion thereof may be declared closed to the public by the director 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 director finds reasonably necessary.

B. No person shall 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. (Ord. 2008-09, 11-4-2008)

A. No person in a park or recreational area shall:

1. Take into, exhibit, or use any air gun, slingshot, firecracker, torpedo, rocket, or other fireworks or other articles of like character; however, air guns may be taken into, exhibited, and used in a recreational area should that area contain an air gun range. (Ord. 2013-01, 2-19-2013)

2. Play or practice golf or archery or fly motor driven model aircraft except in areas specifically designated and posted for such a purpose.

3. 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 monetary value.

4. In or within fifty feet (50') of any covered area or playground area, possess or smoke a lighted or burning tobacco or tobacco related product, or any other lighted weed or plant, including, but not limited to, cigars, cigarettes and pipes; or dispose of any lighted or unlighted tobacco or tobacco related product in any place other than a designated waste disposal container.

5. Engage in any disorderly conduct or behavior in breach of the public peace.

6. Ride any horse or other animal or propel any vehicle, cycle, or automobile elsewhere than on the roads or drives provided and marked for such purpose.

7. Go upon any planter area, lawn or grass plot where prohibited by the director and which prohibition is indicated by sign, or in the absence of such sign, where it is clear that going upon the planter area, lawn or grass plot will damage such area.

8. Operate generators and small engine motors in any public park or recreation area. This provision shall not apply to city personnel acting in their official capacity.

9. Operate motorized watercraft within the boundaries of any city park during flooding conditions.

10. Operate, clean, repair, or bring to the park a grill, smoker, cooker, or deep fryer which is large enough to require a trailer mount.

11. Swim, bathe, wade in, fish, or pollute the water of any fountain, pond, lake, or stream, unless posted otherwise.

12. Bring into any park or recreation area any food or beverage container made of glass; nor cause any object made of glass to be broken in any such area.

13. Five (5) hour parking limit during park hours. No parking of any vehicle while the park is closed between the hours of ten (10:00) P.M. and Sunrise.

B. The following acts are prohibited without prior written permission from the director:

1. Claim exclusive use of, prevent the use by others of, nor reserve for use any park area.

2. Violate the regulation that use of the individual barbecue areas together with tables and benches follows generally the rule of "first come, first served".

3. Sell any tickets for a performance or activity or seek contributions for a performance or activity, whether conducted in the park or elsewhere.

4. Distribute any handbills or circulars or post, place, or erect any bills, notices, papers, or advertising devices or matter of any kind.

5. Sell, or offer for sale, any merchandise or thing whatsoever.

6. Practice, carry on, conduct, or solicit for any trade, occupation, business, or profession.

7. Conduct commercial activities in any park or recreation area.

8. Install, or use a sound amplification system in any park or recreation area, or otherwise violate the provisions of title 9, chapter 17 of this code.

9. Operate a water slide within any park or recreation area.

10. Operate air filled or water filled inflatable structures.

a. When approved of use by the director, permittees are prohibited from using motor vehicles to transport or assist in transporting the inflatable structure onto the park area.

b. Reservation and notification is necessary to ensure adequate time for city staff to unlock and make available park power outlets for use in operating the inflatable structure(s). (Ord. 2008-09, 11-4-2008; amd. Ord. 2024-09, 11-5-2024)

The director, with the approval of the city manager, shall have authority to promote the use of city owned parks and recreation areas for the benefit of the people of the city by organizing, carrying on, conducting and maintaining regularly scheduled and planned athletic contests and games under the supervision of such director, under rules and regulations to be adopted by such director, which, among others, shall include the following:

A. Organized and sponsored athletic teams may be assigned exclusive use of parks and recreational areas for the carrying on and conducting of athletic contests and exhibitions, at which the public shall be admitted without charge, except that voluntary contributions may be collected under the direct supervision of the director of such contests.

B. All of such regularly scheduled athletic contests, games or events shall be carried on and conducted under the supervision and control of the director.

C. The director may, if it is deemed advisable, require each competing team or contestant to pay an entry fee either for a single contest or for a series of contests in league activity. Competing teams shall not receive any traveling expenses or other direct payment from the city for their participation in any contest.

D. Concession sales may be allowed with the prior written permission of the director. (Ord. 2008-09, 11-4-2008)

No person shall bring into any park or recreation area, or possess or consume in any park or recreation area, any alcoholic beverage, without a valid alcohol use permit, obtained pursuant to title 5, chapter 2 of this code. (Ord. 2008-09, 11-4-2008)

A. Any person who violates any of the provisions in this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

B. Notwithstanding the classification of a violation of this chapter as a misdemeanor, at the time an action is commenced to enforce the provisions of this chapter, the trial court, upon recommendation of the prosecuting attorney, may reduce the charge of the offense from a misdemeanor to an infraction pursuant to section 19.6 of the California Penal Code. (Ord. 2008-09, 11-4-2008)