Joyce Hughes Park Rules

Version 3 (Proposed 25 January 2021)

• Park hours of operation.
  • Joyce Hughes Park shall be open daily between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. From dusk to dawn shall be considered “quiet hours” within Joyce Hughes Park, wherein patrons should make every possible effort to avoid creating disruptive disturbances.
  • The managing authority or any law enforcement officer may close or restrict to public use and evacuate Joyce Hughes Park when necessitated by reason of and in the interest of the public health, safety, welfare, maintenance or any other reasons deemed necessary for the public interest.
• Guidelines for general park use.
  • No person shall engage in or solicit business within Joyce Hughes Park without written permission from the managing authority.
  • No person shall expose, distribute, erect or place any sign, handbill, banner, pamphlet, advertisement, circular, notice, or statement within Joyce Hughes Park without a permit issued by the managing authority.
  • Patrons should exercise caution when playing sports and any other strenuous athletic or physical activity.
  • No person shall camp in any area of the park.
  • No firearms are permitted within Joyce Hughes Park at any time.
  • No person shall kindle, build, maintain or use a fire within Joyce Hughes Park, including but not limited to the burning of toxic, hazardous materials, refuse, or garbage. Fires kindled by improperly disposing of a lighted match, cigarette, cigar, or other burning or glowing substance are kindled fires within the meaning of this section.
  • No person shall possess, be in control of, or engage in the discharge of fireworks within Joyce Hughes Park at any time.
  • No person, except in an emergency, shall operate, conduct maintenance on, repair, or park a vehicle within Joyce Hughes Park.
• Discriminatory practices prohibited.
  • Individuals, groups, and other patrons of Joyce Hughes Park shall not harass, abuse, or bully, or discriminate against any person or persons because of gender identity, race, color, sexual orientation, or origin in their use of the park.
• Disorderly conduct prohibited (per Columbus City Code section 2317.11)
  • No person shall recklessly cause inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm to another, by doing any of the following:

1. Engaging in fighting, in threatening harm to persons or property, or in violent or turbulent behavior
2. Making offensively coarse utterance, gesture, or display, or communicating unwarranted and grossly abusive language to any person;
3. Insulting, taunting, or challenging another, under circumstances in which such conduct is likely to provoke a violent response.
4. Creating a condition that is physically offensive to persons or which presents
   a risk of physical harm to persons or property, by any act which serves no
   lawful and reasonable purpose of the offender.

• Littering, importing of rubbish and trash prohibited.
  • No person shall leave, place or dispose of in any manner leaves, grass clippings, garbage, peelings of vegetables or fruit, waste, refuse, rubbish, ashes, can(s), bottle(s), wire, paper carton(s), box(es), motor vehicle or bicycle or wagon parts, furniture, glass, oil, sewage, anything of an unsightly or unsanitary nature under or upon the parks except in a receptacle designated for that purpose within Joyce Hughes Park.
    No person shall import into Joyce Hughes Park any litter, trash, or rubbish from an outside area.
• Pet owner(s) responsibility.
  • Dogs and other companion animals must be physically restrained or on a leash (not longer than six feet in length) and controlled by a responsible person at all times while within Joyce Hughes Park. No animal is permitted to run free within Joyce Hughes Park at any time.
  • No pet owner shall fail to clean up after their pets by collecting and removing feces from Joyce Hughes Park. Pets shall include dogs, cats, or other animals whose owners knowingly bring them into Joyce Hughes Park.
  • Owners of any animals, both pet and livestock, shall be held liable for any damage to Joyce Hughes Park property in addition to any fines or penalty imposed as a result thereof in violation of this policy.

• Destruction and alteration of property.
  • No person shall cause or attempt to cause physical harm to any park facilities, structures, vegetation, trees, natural formations, mineral deposits, historical features, or archeological features, as well as surrounding structures in the immediate proximity of Joyce Hughes Park.
  • No person shall plant or cultivate any seed or vegetation in any area without a permit issued by the managing authority, nor alter or rearrange any natural habitat or terrain.
• Authority and oversight.
  • The managing authority, acting in concordance with Thrive Properties and the NCA, shall enforce these rules in the course of their management of the natural, cultural, developed, and undeveloped resources within Joyce Hughes Park, as well as such wildlife resources, in the public interest, providing the Weinland Park community and the broader public with safe and healthful recreational opportunities while also protecting, enhancing and where possible, expanding these resources.
• Event permit process.
  • The managing authority, acting in concordance with Thrive Properties and the Jeffrey Park NCA, will establish and oversee the permitting of events within Joyce
  • Hughes Park. Detailed event guidelines are available at weinlandpark.org.
  • Any event of more than 15 people will require a permit, with a permit request made at least 14 days in advance of the proposed event date.
  • Any event of more than 30 people will require a permit, permit request made at least 30 days in advance of the proposed event date.

References:

RULES AND REGULATIONS FRANKLIN COUNTY METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT

Columbus, Ohio – Code of Ordinances Title; 9 – STREETS, PARKS AND PUBLIC PROPERTIES CODE – Chapter 919 – PARK RULES AND REGULATIONS