Park Rules and Regulations (Washougal Municipal Code)

2.20.070 Park rules and regulations – Generally.

The following rules as contained in WMC 2.20.070 through 2.20.250 shall be cited as the “park rules and regulations” for the city, which ultimately will be under the direction of the mayor. 

2.20.090 Purpose.

The parks, playgrounds, activity centers, buildings and other facilities of the public works department are established by law for public recreation purposes. The public recreation program consists primarily of activities planned and directed by the parks and recreation department and secondarily of recreation activities of community groups brought under control of the division when conducted under permit at the public park facility. 

2.20.100 Hours.

The city parks are open during daylight hours only with the exception of special permission. The director shall establish for each city park area, according to existing conditions, times and periods when it will be open or closed to the public. Such times and periods shall be posted at the entrance to the park area. No person shall enter or be present at a park area after closing time. 

2.20.110 Posting signs, posters and notices.

(1) It is unlawful for any person, without prior written permission of the director, to attach any notice, bill, poster, sign, wire, rod or cord to any tree, shrub, railing, post or structure within any park; provided, the director may permit the erection of temporary directional signs or decorations on occasions of public celebration and picnics.

(2) It is unlawful for any person, without prior written permission of the director, to use, place or erect any signboard, sign, billboard, bulletin board, post, pole or device of any kind for advertising in the park, or to place or erect in any park a permanent or temporary structure of any kind. 

2.20.120 Damage to park property unlawful.

It is unlawful for any person to dig or damage any animal and/or plant life within a city park area. 

2.20.130 Animals at large prohibited.

It is unlawful for any person to allow or permit any pet to run at large unless in specified designated areas or to permit any pet with or without a leash, except seeing eye dogs or dogs used for law enforcement, to enter any public beach, swimming or wading area, ponds, fountain, stream or organized athletic areas. Any person with a dog or other pet in his possession in any park shall be responsible for both the conduct of the animal and have removed from the park feces deposited by such animal. 

2.20.140 Certain vocations prohibited.

Except as provided elsewhere in these rules, it is unlawful for persons to conduct activities in a city park area for private voluntary gain (profit). Said activities must be conducted in accordance with the city regulations, held without admission charge, be open to the general public without discrimination and scheduled during hours when the park areas are regularly open. 

2.20.150 Permit for assemblies and scheduled events required.

(1) It is unlawful for any person to hold, sponsor or participate in any organized assembly without first obtaining permission from the director.

(2) Religious services or group rallies may be permitted in park areas where facilities are adequate, and where such activities will not conflict in any way with normal park usage. To avoid conflict, written permission for such activities must be obtained in advance from the director. 

2.20.160 Building fires.

It is unlawful for any person to build any fire in any park except in such areas as may be designated by signs posted in such park areas. 

2.20.170 Intoxicating liquors prohibited.

It is unlawful for any person to bring into any park or consume any intoxicating liquor. 

2.20.180 Selling refreshments or merchandise.

It is unlawful to sell refreshments or merchandise in any park within the city of Washougal without first obtaining a concession permit from the director. The director shall establish rules and regulations relating to the issuance of such permit. 

2.20.190 Driving areas – Speed limits.

It is unlawful for any person to ride or drive any motor vehicle over or through any park trail or path except along and upon the park drive, parkways or parking areas, or at a speed in excess of the posted speed limit. (Ord. 933 § 1, 1988)

2.20.200 Parking.

(1) No operator of any automobile, trailer, camper, boat trailer or other vehicle shall park or put such vehicle in any park area, except where the operator is using the area for a designated recreational purpose and the vehicle is parked either in a designated parking area, or in another area with the permission of a park employee. No person shall park or abandon any vehicle in any park area after closing time. Any vehicle found parked in violation of this section may be towed away at the owner’s or operator’s expense.

(2) It is unlawful to park a motor vehicle in a designated handicapped parking space without the officially recognized symbol. All improperly parked vehicles are subject to being towed away at the owner’s or operator’s expense. 

2.20.210 Camping areas and permits.

It is unlawful for any person to camp in any city park except as permitted in Chapter 9.66 WMC. 

2.20.220 Practicing and playing certain games.

It is unlawful for any person to practice or play golf, baseball, cricket, polo, lacrosse, archery, hockey or other games of like character or to hurl or propel any missile except at park areas set apart and/or designated for such purposes by the director which will not conflict in any way with normal park usage. 

2.20.230 Amplified music and public address system.

It is unlawful to operate a powered public address system or amplified music speaker system or other means of amplifying sound in any park areas without a written permit from the director. Battery-operated portable radios and tape players are permitted; provided, they shall not be operated at a volume or in any manner which unreasonably disturbs the peace of others. 

2.20.240 Adoption of rules and regulations by director.

The director, under the direction of the city manager, has the power to promulgate and adopt reasonable rules and regulations pertaining to the operation, management and use of the parks, and shall post the same in conspicuous places in the parks. Such rules and regulations may include the establishment of hours during which any park or portion thereof, as designated by signs located within the designated portion, shall be closed to the general public; such closures may be for reasons of public safety, welfare and convenience, or for reasons of park maintenance. 

2.20.250 Penalty for violations.

Violations of the park rules and regulations, as set out in this article, are a misdemeanor. Violators will be dealt with in accordance of existing state laws and city ordinances. 

Article III. Specific Park Rules and Regulations

2.20.260 Cottonwood Beach/Captain Clark Park.

The city hereby adopts Port of Washougal Regulations for enforcement in the Cottonwood Beach/Captain Clark Park area of the Port. A violation of Port rules is a misdemeanor subject to prosecution by the city of Washougal with a fine of up to $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail.

A copy of the Port rules and regulations to be enforced by the city of Washougal is attached to the ordinance codified in this section marked as Exhibit “A” and by this reference incorporated herein.