Ventura Municipal Code Ch. 20.50 Prohibited Use of Parks

No person shall participate in any activity involving or consisting of model aircraft flying, use of golf equipment, horseback riding, go-cart riding, motorcycle or motorized off-road vehicle usage, hang gliding, archery, rockets, or hardball, or engaged in any sport or other activity so as to constitute a hazard to any other person within any public park within the city. (Code 1971, § 6281)

A. The city manager or their designee is authorized to promulgate regulations as needed to preserve, protect, and regulate the use of park property and facilities in order to promote public safety and to distribute park space and facilities among competing uses, including the prohibition of certain activities or restriction of them to certain times and/or locations. Failure to obey any regulation issued by the city manager or their designee pursuant to this section shall be a violation of this chapter. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to permit construction or demolition of park facilities.

B. Whenever any activity is restricted or prohibited in specified areas of any park, or whenever the use of specified areas is restricted or prohibited, the city manager or their designee shall cause signs to be posted or permits to be issued notifying the public of such restrictions or prohibitions. Failure to obey the restrictions stated in any properly posted sign or in any permit shall be a violation of this chapter. (Ord. No. 2013-003, § 1, 4-8-13)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it shall not be unlawful for any person to participate in any activity in a public park which is conducted in an area that has been specifically designated by the director of parks and recreation, or an authorized representative thereof, as an area in which the specific activity is allowed. (Code 1971, § 6282)

The director of parks and recreation, or a designated representative thereof, is hereby authorized to construct, maintain, and post such markings and signs as are determined to be necessary or desirable to give public notice or otherwise implement the provisions of this chapter. (Code 1971, § 6283)

A. Generally. Except as otherwise specified in this chapter, city park properties, as determined or designated by the director of parks and recreation, shall be closed to public use at a time to be determined by the director of parks and recreation and shall remain closed until sunrise the following day. A park or portions thereof may be closed when it has been determined that:

1. Continued use of the park or portion thereof could create hazardous conditions detrimental to the health or safety of the public or cause an adverse physical impact on the park environment.

2. It is necessary during times of repair or cleaning of the facility.

3. A park may be closed to additional users when areas normally used for parking are filled.

4. Conditions warrant the closure of a park during inclement weather or wet grounds.

5. It is necessary, upon request of the Ventura fire department or the United States Forest Service, to use a park for a fire camp.

6. There has been a lack of use.

B. Entering or Remaining After Closing Time. No person shall enter or remain in any city park or portion thereof at any time when the same is closed to the public unless such person is authorized to do so by the city council, the director of parks and recreation, or the authorized representation of any of the above. The director of parks and recreation shall, by appropriate signs or other means, give notice of closing times, and they may designate certain areas which will be closed to the public at a regular closing time, regardless of whether or not any outdoor or indoor activity is being or is scheduled to be conducted elsewhere in the park.

C. Activities After Closing Time. Any portion of a city park or any enclosed building in a city park in which an activity is being conducted or is scheduled to be conducted with the written permission of the director of parks and recreation shall not be considered closed after the regular closing time to members of the public who are authorized participants, observers and attendees in said activity, and who are within the permitted portion of the park, the enclosed building, any paths leading thereto from any street, or any other facility, outdoor area, or off-street parking area intended for use in connection therewith, until 30 minutes after the conclusion of the permitted activity. As to other members of the public who are not authorized participants, observers or attendees in an activity being conducted or scheduled to be conducted in any portion of a city park or in any enclosed building therein, the park and all buildings therein shall be considered closed at the regular closing time.

D. Emergency Closing. The city council, director of parks and recreation, fire chief, chief of police or an authorized representative of any of said officials may direct any park or designated portion thereof to be closed to protect public safety, public property or natural resources within said city park, or any private or public property or natural resources in the vicinity of the park, from imminent damage or destruction or where there is a clear and present danger of a breach of the public peace or safety in said park or portion of a park or in the vicinity thereof. When a city park or portion thereof is closed to the public by the city council, director of parks and recreation, fire chief or chief of police or an authorized representative, pursuant to the above authority or any other proper authority, no person shall enter said park or closed portion thereof after notice of such closing, or fail to refuse to promptly leave same when requested to do so by any person authorized by the city council, director of parks and recreation, fire chief, or chief of police. (Code 1971, § 6284)