Chapter 12 · Public Property

Article 1. City Parks

Sections 12-101 to 12-117 · 15 sections

12-101 City laws extended to park.

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

(Code 2004)

12-102 Police jurisdiction over parks.

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 2004)

12-103 Damaging park property.

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

(Code 2004)

12-104 Vehicle regulations.

(a)Motor vehicles, including any vehicle licensed to operate on public streets, roads and highways 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 park 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 maintenance and care of the park or emergency vehicles in their performance of official duties.

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

12-105 Hunting.

It shall be unlawful for any person to pursue, catch, trap, maim, kill, shoot or take any wildlife, either bird or animal, in any manner at any time while in any city park.

(Code 2004)

12-106 Fires.

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 2004)

12-109 Camping prohibited.

Overnight camping is hereby prohibited in city parks except where posted.

(Code 2004)

12-110 Sanitation.

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, drinking fountains, sanitary facilities, or other improvements.

(Code 2004)

12-111 Prohibition against alcoholic beverages and cereal malt beverages.

(a)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 except as permitted by subsections (b) and (c) thereof.

(b)Consumption of cereal malt beverages defined in section 3-101 may be permitted within the city park or on city owned property during such time and in such areas as designated by the city council for special events.

(c)A request for special event permits shall be completed and returned to the City Clerk’s office at least 35 days prior to a special event.

12-112 Preservation of natural state.

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 2004)

12-113 Fishing regulations.

(a)Creel limits. A creel limit is the maximum number of a species of fish or frog that can be taken per person in a calendar day.

(b)Length limits. Minimum length limits mean that fish shorter than a certain length cannot be kept.

(c)The following creel and length limits are hereby adopted:

(1)Bluegill: No limit.

(2)Channel Catfish: 5 per day

(3)Largemouth Bass: a 2/day creel limit

NOTE: See KDWPT – Statewide Creel and Length Limits for specific details

(d)Fishing is permitted from sunrise to sunset.

(e)State fishing licenses are required of all adults in accordance with State law.

(f)Anglers shall not bait or “chum” water to attract fish.

(g)All trash, including bait and fish remains, shall be removed from the park by the individual responsible for creating such trash.

(Ord. 601 Sec 1)

12-114 Penalty.

Any person or person violating any of the provisions of this Article may be prosecuted through the Colwich Municipal Court. Each offense shall be deemed an infraction offense. Fines shall be a minimum of $50 per offense, and a maximum of $500 per offense. Each violation of this Article may be prosecuted as a separate offense.

(Ord. 601, Sec. 1)

12-115 Hours: opening and closing.

City park recreational and picnic facilities will be closed to the public from 12:00 midnight to 5:00 a.m. daily, except for special events as approved by the City Council.

12-116 Swimming, bathing, wading, skating or use of a vessel.

Swimming, bathing, wading, skating, or the use of vessels in the City’s pond is prohibited except in designated areas, with city approval. This prohibition shall not apply to authorized State or City employees or agents while engaged in the maintenance and care of the pond or the fish and wildlife maintained within or authorized members of the City’s Fire Department engaged in training activities.

(a)The term “vessel” used herein means every description of watercraft used or capable of being used or intended to be used as a means of transportation on water.

(b)The term “skating” used herein includes use of ice skates as well as sliding in any manner on ice without ice skates.

(Ord. 736)

12-117 Fireworks in the park.

The discharging of fireworks in the city park areas will be in compliance with the existing city laws and in designated areas only.