CHAPTER 12. PUBLIC PROPERTYCHAPTER 12. PUBLIC PROPERTY\Article 3. City Parks and Land

The parks and land of the city shall be operated by a department to be known as the “Lakin Park Department.” The department shall consist of the governing body, a superintendent, and other officers and employees of the city who shall devote all or part of their time to the department. The city administrator shall maintain, manage, conduct and control the parks system and department. The governing body shall make all such ordinances, rules and regulations as may be necessary for the safe, economical and efficient management of the park system.

(Code 2003)

There is hereby created the position of superintendent of park and land. The superintendent of park and land shall be employed by the city administrator and shall perform the following duties:

(a)   He or she shall have general control and charge of the maintenance and operation of the city’s park system, including buildings, equipment and trees and shrubs.

(b)   He or she shall report monthly to the city administrator on all matters concerning the park system.

(c)   He or she shall file an annual inventory of all property with the city administrator.

(d)   He or she shall have charge and control of all employees within his or her department subject only to direct instructions from the city administrator.

(e)   He or she shall make budget recommendations to the city administrator.

(f)   He or she shall perform all other duties imposed upon him or her by ordinance or law.

(Code 2003)

The laws of the city shall extend to and cover all city parks.

(Code 2003)

The city shall have police regulations governing any public parks belonging to the city and the chief of police and law enforcement officers of the city shall have full power to enforce city laws governing city parks and shall maintain order therein.

(Code 2003)

It shall be unlawful for any person, except duly authorized city employees, to willfully or wantonly remove injury, tarnish, deface or destroy any building, walk, bench, tree or improvement or property or any kind belonging to any park owned by the city.

(Code 2003)

(a)   Motor vehicles, including any vehicle licensed to operate on public streets, roads and highways and motorbikes, go-carts, snowmobiles and other motorized off-the-road vehicles shall be operated in a safe and prudent manner at all times in park areas.

(b)   Except as provided in subsection (d), it shall be unlawful for any person to operate any motor vehicle in any area not designated for such purpose.

(c)   Except as provided in subsection (d), it shall be unlawful for any person to operate any motor vehicle within any city park except upon roads, drives and parking areas established by the city.

(d)   Subsections (b) and (c) above shall not apply to authorized city employees while engaged in the maintenance and care of the park.

(e)   It shall be unlawful to operate any such vehicle in any park area at a speed in excess of 20 m.p.h.

(Code 2003)

It shall be unlawful for any person to build or kindle any fire in any city park except in the ovens, stoves, or grills provided for that purpose by the city, and such fire must be extinguished by the person, persons or parties starting such fire, immediately after use thereof.

(Code 2003)

All waste material, paper, trash, rubbish, tin cans, bottles, containers, garbage and refuse of any kind whatsoever shall be deposited in disposal containers provided for such purposes. No such waste or contaminating material shall be discarded otherwise. No sticks, stones, trash or other objects shall be thrown or discarded in or on any park lands, fountains, pools sanitary facilities or other improvements.

(Code 2003)

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to use, consume or have on the premises of any park or other city property within the city any alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage.

(Code 2003)

It shall be unlawful for any person, except duly authorized city employees, to take, injure, or disturb any live or dead tree, plant, shrub, or flower, or otherwise interfere with the natural state of city parks.

(Code 1986)

The city may post such rules and regulations, as are approved by the governing body, pertaining to the use of the city parks in a conspicuous place in each city park. Violations of these posted rules constitute a violation of this code.

(Code 2003)