Park Rules & Regulations


Excerpted from the Municipal Code of Ordinances

Sec. 15-61 - Unlawful acts. 
General park rules. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly do any of the acts specified in this section in or upon any city park or park facility, except as may be otherwise provided. 


(1) To hitch, fasten, lead, drive, or let loose any animal, reptile, or fowl of any kind, provided that it shall be a defense that the animal is a dog being led by a leash, cord, or chain not more than six feet long connected to the collar on the dog and the other end of which is being held by the person.
(2) To ride or drive any horse or other animal, except in designated areas.
(3) To operate any bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, or other motorized or non-motorized vehicle or mode of transportation on any drive or street in any park at a speed greater than the posted speed.
(4) To ride or drive any motorcycle, automobile, or other motorized vehicle upon any sidewalk, hiking or jogging trail or walk, except in designated areas.
(5) To carry or discharge any firearms (unless permitted under subsection (a) (5), firecrackers, rockets, torpedoes, or any other fireworks, air guns, BB guns, bows and arrows, slingshots, paint-ball guns, or any device which would or could project any object which would or could create a fire hazard or any hazard or danger to the public ; provided, however, it shall be a defense to the prohibition against carrying a firearm within a city park if the person carrying the weapon has been issued a license to carry such weapon pursuant to Chapter 411, Sub-chapter H of the Texas Government Code, as amended, and the carrying of such weapon is not otherwise prohibited by other law.
(6) To hit golf balls of any type except in designated areas.
(8) To cut or remove any wood, turf, grass, soil, rock, sand, gravel or fertilizer.
(9) To swim, bathe, wade in, or pollute the water of any fountain, pond, lake or stream.
(10) To make or kindle a fire except in picnic stoves, braziers, fire pits, or designated areas provided for that purpose.
(11) To wash dishes or to empty salt water or other waste liquids elsewhere other than in sinks provided for such purposes.
(12) To place, abandon, or leave garbage, cans, bottles, papers, or other refuse except in proper waste receptacles.
(14) To camp overnight.
(15) To possess or consume any alcoholic beverage; provided, however, it shall be a defense if the person (i) was in possession of and/or consumed the alcoholic beverage while in attendance at an event held in the park for which the city has issued a permit or otherwise provided written consent for the sale and/or service of alcoholic beverages in association in the event and (ii) obtained the alcoholic beverage from the person or entity that was authorized by the city to sell or serve alcoholic beverages.
(16) To disturb in any manner any picnic, meeting, service, concert, exercise or exhibition, or to enter onto or into a closed area or facility, or a reserved facility or area, or a location where scheduled activities are occurring, during the period that the area or facility is reserved, closed or during the scheduled activity and remain or return after the person has been given notice to leave.
(17) To distribute, post, place, or erect any commercial advertising, handbill, circular, bill, notice, paper, or other advertising device.
(18) To sell or offer for sale any food, drinks, confections, merchandise or services, except pursuant to a permit issued by, or pursuant to a written agreement with, the City.
(19) To practice, carry on, conduct, or solicit for any trade, occupation, business or profession.
(20) To remain, stay or loiter in any park between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. of the following day, or remain, stay or loiter in any park except during the posted hours of operation, if posted as open other than 5:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. of the same day.
(21) For any person over the age of six years to use the restrooms and washrooms designated for the opposite sex.
(23) To allow an animal to defecate in the park without immediate removal and disposal of such feces in proper waste receptacles.
(24) Seining minnows or fish from the creeks, ponds and lakes.
(25) To abandon, place, remove or injure any animal including any living creature, domestic or wild, including but not limited to, dogs, cats, cows, horses, birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, fowls, and livestock, except fishing in designated areas. Fishing by adults is restricted to catch and release.
(26) To use or operate any motorboat, boat or watercraft on any creek, pond, lake or water within any park.
(27) To conduct any activity which places a person in or on any creek, pond, lake or water within the park.
(28) To use or operate any model airplane, boat, car, or other motorized model device, including radio-controlled devices; or helicopter, parasail, hang glider or hot air balloon. Non-motorized model sailboats are allowed.
(29) Use of mechanical loudspeakers or amplified music, sound or voices.
(31) To operate a motor-assisted scooter, as defined by V.T.C.A., Transportation Code, § 551.301, as amended, except on sidewalks, and on paths set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles.


(Code 1966, § 14-5(C))

Sec. 15-63. Parking vehicles.
No vehicle shall be driven over or across the curbs, sidewalks, grass or lawn within any park area unless signs permit. Parking is to be done in areas set aside for this purpose only. In areas having no parking set aside, all parking will take place outside of the boundary or curb line, where existing. Where parking stalls have been designated, all vehicles shall be parked on such lots within and between the lines designating a single vehicle parking space and not otherwise. Where parking lots or areas within public parks of the city have been designated for head-in parking to front on a visible parking line without delineated single vehicle spaces, the front of the vehicle shall be placed on the parking line and as near as practicable to the side of the last parked vehicle in line. No vehicle shall be parked or left behind any other vehicle in the parking line or back of such parking line in any manner so as to obstruct, block or hinder ingress or egress from the line. Officers of the police department of the city shall issue to violators of this section traffic tickets or notices to answer to charges in the manner prescribed by the applicable ordinances and the case shall proceed in accordance with such applicable sections. Where a vehicle is parked or left in violation of this section in such a manner as to obstruct or block traffic, and the owner or operator of the vehicle cannot be found, police officers of the city may move the vehicle so that traffic will not be impeded. No variation to the requirements of this section shall be allowed except by special permit issued by the director.
(Code 1966, § 14-5(D))

Sec. 15-64. City sponsored events.

Sec. 15-65. Park facilities.
