Madera County Municipal Code Ch. 9.74 Regulations Regarding Use of County Parks

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 519F, § 1, adopted November 25, 2014, amended Chapter 9.74 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Chapter 9.74, §§ 9.74.010—9.74.130, pertained to similar material. See the ordinance list and disposition table for the chapter's history.

The provisions of Chapter 9.74 pertaining to hours of operation, prohibited activities and consumption of alcohol apply in the following county parks.

A. Oakhurst Community park;

B. Parkwood Community park;

C. Courthouse Park;

D. Parksdale Park;

E. Ahwahnee regional park;

F. Fairmead Tot Lot.

(Ord. No. 519F, § 1, 11-25-14).

The grounds and facilities of county parks shall be open to the public only between the hours of seven a.m. and nine p.m. each day. It is unlawful for any person to be in the facilities or on the grounds of any county park after nine p.m. or before seven a.m. and such trespass is subject to misdemeanor prosecution as provided in Chapter 1.12 of this code. Any person having obtained a permit as specified in Chapter 5.16 of this code shall be permitted to use any county park for such hours as are specified in the permit and shall not be in violation of this section for such use.

(Ord. No. 519F, § 1, 11-25-14).

The following activities are forbidden in any and all county parks, including those maintained through a special district:

A. Tying or hitching any animal to any tree or shrub in a park, or leaving any animal unhitched or loose, unless adjacent to an equestrian trail or in an area expressly authorized for equestrian use;

B. Allowing dogs to run at large in a park;

C. Riding any animal in a park, except on trails designated as open to riding animals;

D. Riding any bicycle, skateboard, or scooter in a park, except on trails designated as open to bicycle or scooter riding or skateboarding;

E. Operating any motor vehicle, or driving any animal-pulled vehicle or cart, except in parking lots or upon access driveways and roads. The speed limit within parks shall be five miles per hour, except where a faster speed is designated;

F. Hunting or otherwise intentionally injuring, killing or capturing any bird or mammal;

G. Picking, pruning, or cutting down flowers, shrubbery, or trees;

H. Interfering with any drinking fountain or watering tap or faucet;

I. Depositing any garbage or refuse upon the park grounds, unless placed in those cans or bins designated for garbage or refuse disposal;

J. Defecating or urinating in the park except within the public lavatories located within the park.

(Ord. No. 519F, § 1, 11-25-14).

A. It is unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to camp or stay from sunset to sunrise in any county park, including a park created through a county maintenance district, county service area or other district, except in designated camping areas. Any person who obtains a permit pursuant to procedures established by the board of supervisors shall be permitted to camp or stay overnight in a park at such locations and for such hours as specified in the permit and shall not be in violation of this section.

B. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in subsection A of this section, it is unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to camp or stay overnight in Courthouse Park, and no permit shall be issued for overnight camping or staying in Courthouse Park, except as to recognized nonprofit organizations of two or more individuals who apply for and receive a permit to camp as part of an organized event to be held in Courthouse Park. Courthouse Park is defined as that area in the city of Madera bounded by Yosemite Avenue to the north, Gateway Avenue to the east, 6th Street to the south, and H Street to the west, and shall include the Madera County Courthouse Museum and all other structures situated therein.

(Ord. No. 519F, § 1, 11-25-14).

A. It is unlawful for any person to possess or consume alcohol at any county park, unless as part of an organized group having obtained an event permit as specified in Chapter 5.16 of this code, with such permit expressly permitting possession or consumption of alcohol beverages.

B. It is unlawful for any person to possess or consume alcohol at the Oakhurst Community Park, if the owner of that park has posted signs banning the possession or consumption of alcohol without an event permit as specified in Chapter 5.16 of this code that expressly permits consumption of alcohol beverages, unless as part of an organized group having obtained such an event permit.

(Ord. No. 519F, § 1, 11-25-14).

It is unlawful for any person to camp or stay overnight on any Pacific Gas and Electric Company lands except in those areas designated and posted for that purpose. Violation of the ordinance codified in this section is a misdemeanor.

(Ord. No. 519F, § 1, 11-25-14).

The lakes, grounds and facilities of the Indian Lakes Estates lakes shall be open only to the owners and residents of lots in the Indian Lakes Estates subdivision and the guest of any such owner or resident when accompanied by the owner or resident, and then only between sunrise and sunset of each day of the week.

It is unlawful and a trespass for any person except an owner or resident of a lot in Indian Lakes Estates or a guest of any such owner or resident when accompanied by the owner or resident, to be in or on the lakes, grounds or facilities of any lake in Indian Lakes Estates. It is further unlawful and a trespass for any person to be in or on the lakes, grounds or facilities of the lakes in Indian Lakes Estates before sunrise or and after sunset of any day.

Such trespass is declared to be an infraction.

(Ord. No. 519F, § 1, 11-25-14).

The provisions of Chapter 9.74 shall not apply unless the applicable provisions are posted at the entrances to the parks advising of the relevant prohibited activities and the penalties.

(Ord. No. 519F, § 1, 11-25-14).