Establishing rules and regulations - see Ohio R.C. 755.07

Peddlers and solicitors - see B. REG. Chs. 523 and 525

Park of Roses - see PUB. PROP. Ch. 917

Swimming in watercourses - see W.S. & E. 1111.07

Pollution of water supply - see W.S. & E. 1113.01

General traffic regulations - see Title Twenty-One - TRAFFIC CODE

Speed regulations - see TRAF. 2133.04

Parking on streets to wash vehicles - see TRAF. 2151.17

General offenses - see Title Twenty-Three - GENERAL OFFENSES

CODE

Gambling prohibited - see G. OFF. Ch. 2315

Animals at large - see G. OFF. 2327

Harming animals - see G. OFF. 2327

As used in this chapter:
(A) “Camping” shall mean utilization of any piece of equipment for sleeping in or upon, including, but not limited to, a sleeping bag, hammock, motor vehicle, trailer, tent, tarp or vessel for the purpose of occupying a portion of city-owned or controlled property or waterway for temporary or permanent outdoor living.
(B) “Commission” shall mean the recreation and parks commission, as established by Section 112-1 of the Columbus City Charter.
(C) “Department” shall mean the recreation and parks department of the city.
(D) “Designated area” shall mean any location, place, site, region, facility, zone or space identified by the director.
(E) “Director” shall mean the director of the recreation and parks department for the city, or any representative the director so designates.
(F) “Park” or “parks” shall mean all city parks, parklands or waterways, as well as all other areas outgranted or under lease, license, written or concession agreement.
(G) “Waterways” shall mean all city-controlled water including, but not limited to, reservoirs, reservoir lands, rivers, lakes, creeks, streams, ponds, fountains, and water-filled quarries. (Ord. 1648-91.)

Every law enforcement officer within the scope of his employment and authority may enforce this chapter of the Columbus City Codes and rules and regulations adopted hereunder. (Ord. 1648-91.)

(A) The director, acting through the commission, shall manage the natural, cultural, developed and undeveloped resources, as well as such wildlife resources in the parks, in the public interest, providing the public with safe and healthful recreational opportunities while also protecting, enhancing and where possible, expanding these resources.
(B) Administration Rules. The commission may promulgate such rules and regulations pursuant to its authority under the City Charter.
(C) Any violation of any section of this chapter shall constitute a separate violation for each calendar day in which it occurs. (Ord. 1648-91.)

Each lessee, licensee, concessionaire or holder of any written agreement of an area under lease, license, concession, agreement or permit providing a public or quasi-public use, including group camping activities, accommodation or any other permitted activity, shall not discriminate against any person or persons because of sex, race, color or origin in the conduct of its operations under the lease, license, concession, agreement or permit as entered into with the department and/or commission. (Ord. 1648-91.)

(A) Parks shall be open daily between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. with the following exceptions:
(1) Upon written approval by the director.
(2) Camping pursuant to Section 919.13.
(3) Offshore and shorebound fishing and associated trailering activities.
(B) The director or any law enforcement officer may close or restrict to public use and evacuate a park, facility or area when necessitated by reason of and in the interest of the public health, safety, welfare, maintenance or any other reasons deemed necessary for public interest. (Ord. 2155-91.)

(A) No person, in any park, shall participate in any meeting, parade or other organized activity involving more than ten (10) persons without a permit issued by the director.
(B) No person shall fail to comply with the fee requirements or other terms and conditions of any such permit issued under the provisions of this chapter.
(C) All permits issued by the director must be exhibited in a clear and conspicuous location and produced upon the demand of any law enforcement officer. (Ord. 1648-91.)

(A) No person shall engage in or solicit business within any park without written permission from the director.
(B) The department and nonprofit corporations specifically established to enhance the programs and facilities of the department may engage in sales. (Ord. 1648-91.)

(A) No person shall expose, distribute, erect or place any sign, handbill, pamphlet, advertisement, circular, notice or statement and no person shall display any banner, emblem or design for the purpose of promoting commercial activity within any park without a permit issued by the director.
(B) Vessels and motor vehicles with semipermanent or permanent painted or installed signs are exempt, as long as they are used for authorized recreational activities only and comply with all other rules and regulations pertaining to vessels and motor vehicles. (Ord. 1648-91.)

No person, without privilege to do so, shall recklessly do any of the following in any park:
(A) Cause or attempt to cause physical harm to any park facilities, structures, vegetation, trees, natural formations, mineral deposits, historical features or archeological features.
(B) Construct, create or attempt to create or erect any structures, trails, paths, roads, ball fields, or landscape features.
(C) Cut, mow, trim, gather, collect or take possession of any vegetation, flowers, trees or parts thereof.
(D) Alter or rearrange any natural habitat or terrain.
(E) No person shall purposely cause the removal or replacement of any shorebound or waterway habitats.
(F) No person shall enhance or create any waterway habitat without written permission from the director.
(G) No person shall plant or cultivate any seed or vegetation in any area administered by the department without a permit issued by the director. (Ord. 1648-91.)

(A) No person shall kindle, build, maintain or use a fire other than in places provided or designated for such purpose. The burning of toxic, hazardous materials, refuse or garbage is prohibited.
(B) No person shall leave a fire, fire embers or burning briquettes without supervision from the time it is kindled until extinguished.
(C) No person shall throw away or discard any burning object which has not been entirely extinguished and discarded in receptacles provided for such.
(D) No person shall transport, store or possess any combustible liquid or other accellerants in any park except in a storage container designed for that purpose.
(E) No person shall build or maintain ceremonial fires except by permit issued from the director.
(F) 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. (ORC 1503.18; Ord. 1648-91.)

(A) Except as otherwise provided for within Chapter 921, wading, swimming, bathing or entering into any of the lakes, ponds, streams, reservoirs, quarries, fountains or any other water repository is strictly prohibited without the express permission of the director.
(B) Swimming and wading shall only be permitted within those recreational facilities as designated by the director. (Ord. 1648-91.)

(A) No person shall camp in any area except designated areas set aside by the director for the purpose of camping and unless such person possesses a current and valid camping permit.
(B) Any person camping in any designated camp area shall personally register the campsite and the camping permit shall be displayed in a conspicuous location and produced upon demand of any law enforcement officer.
(C) No person shall place camping equipment at any campsite for the purpose of reserving the site for future occupancy.
(D) No person shall sublease, transfer or assign their campsite to another person.
(E) Owners of any animals, both pet and livestock, shall be held liable for any damage to park property in addition to any fines or penalty imposed as a result thereof in violation of this chapter. (Ord. 1648-91.)

(A) No person shall knowingly possess with the purpose to consume any liquor or beer as defined in Ohio R.C. Chapter 4301 while being in or upon any park.
(B) For the purposes of subsection (A) of this section, any person found in or upon any park and in possession of any liquor or beer is presumed to knowingly possess the liquor or beer with the purpose to consume such.
(C) Subsection (A) of this section shall not apply to the following locations:
(1) Municipal golf courses when concessions which include the possession, sale and consumption of liquor or beer are contracted by the recreation and parks department.
(2) The Columbus Zoo premises when the possession, sale and consumption of liquor or beer is permitted by written authorization from the Columbus zoological park association.
(3) Franklin Park Adventure Center when the possession, sale or consumption of liquor or beer is permitted by written authorization from the director of the recreation and parks department.
(4) The Cultural Arts Center when the possession, sale or consumption of liquor or beer is permitted by written authorization from the director of the recreation and parks department.
(5) The Santa Maria replica, moored in Battelle Riverfront Park, when the possession, sale or consumption of liquor or beer is permitted by written authorization from the director of the recreation and parks department. (Ord. 874-97 § 1.)
(6) Certain enclosed, public rental shelter houses and facilities when the possession, sale or consumption of liquor or beer is permitted by written authorization from the director of the recreation and parks department.
(7) Downtown/Riverfront event facilities when the possession, sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages is permitted by written authorization from the director of the recreation and parks department.
(D) The possession, sale or consumption of liquor or beer, when permitted by subsection (C), shall be in compliance with all applicable laws pertaining thereto (Ord. 1648-91), and with any recreation and parks department administrative rules. Failure to comply with any laws or administrative rules shall be sufficient grounds for immediate revocation of permit. (Ord. 28-05 § 1.)

No person shall:
(A) Engage in fishing in violation of Ohio R.C. Chapter 1533;
(B) Bowfish except on Hoover Reservoir north of the second bridge upstream from the dam. (Ord. 2155-91.)

No person, without privilege to do so, shall use any crossbow, bow, arrow, slingshot or any other projectile propelling device. (Ord. 1648-91.)

(A) 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.
(B) No person shall import into any area administered by the department from another place any substance described in subsection (A) of this section.
(C) No pet owner shall fail to clean up after their pets by collecting and removing feces from park or reservoir property. Pets shall include dogs, cats, or other animals whose owners knowingly bring them into park or reservoir property.
(D) Section 919.16(C) does not apply to the owner of or person in charge of an animal where that animal is assisting a blind or handicapped person and defecates on property, and such person either is unaware of that fact or is unable to comply with Section 919.16(C). Section 919.16(C) does not apply to law enforcement personnel in charge of an animal which is assisting such personnel in the performance of official duties. (Ord. 1648-91; Ord. 738-97 § 1 (part).)

(A) No person shall climb, stand or sit on any monument, decorative ornament, nature object or fountain or any other structure except those provided expressly for such purposes.
(B) No person shall engage in rappelling or climbing activities in the parks.
(C) No person shall throw, drop, toss, propel or cause the same of any object over or off any bridge, observation tower or other similar structure. (Ord. 1648-91.)

No person shall hit a golf ball or practice golf except in areas designated by the director. (Ord. 1648-91.)

Engine powered miniature models and toy airplanes, chemically powered rockets, boats, cars, sirens or other noise-making devices are not permitted to be operated in any park except in areas specifically designated by the director. (Ord. 1648-91.)

No person shall place or permit to be placed in any waterway any noxious or deleterious material or any material which may affect the use or enjoyment of such waters for recreational or other park uses. (Ord. 1648-91.)

(A) No person shall engage in underwater diving while using a snorkel or while diving with self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (S.C.U.B.A.) without being fully equipped with a face mask, foot fins, buoyancy compensation vest and snorkel.
(B) No person shall scuba dive while alone, nor dive without first marking the diving area by displaying an official diving flag at the water’s surface.
(C) No person shall engage in underwater diving with S.C.U.B.A. equipment without having a submersible pressure gauge and nationally recognized S.C.U.B.A. certification unless they are under the direct supervision of a certified S.C.U.B.A. instructor.
(D) No person shall scuba dive without a permit issued by the director. (Ord. 1648-91.)

No person shall ice skate except in designated areas and only after proper notification has been displayed by the department. (Ord. 1648-91.)

(A) No person, except in an emergency, shall repair a vehicle in any park.
(B) No person shall wash, wax, polish or otherwise clean any vehicle, in any park, except in areas designated for such purposes.
(C) No person shall operate or park a vehicle on the grass except in designated areas.
(D) No person shall operate any vehicle with a gross weight greater than eight thousand (8,000) pounds in any park without the permission of the director.
(E) No person shall operate a snowmobile upon or over any area administered by the department except in those areas so designated.
(F) No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon the roadways within any park in excess of fifteen (15) miles per hour.
(G) No person shall operate any vehicle upon the frozen surface of any waterway. (Ord. 1648-91.)

No person shall possess, be in control of or engage in the discharge of fireworks, unless approved by the director and pursuant to Chapter 2533 of the Columbus City Code. (Ord. 1648-91.)

Gambling is prohibited unless approved by the director and pursuant to Ohio R.C. Chapter 2915. (Ord. 1648-91.)

The director may establish within a park preserves or management areas with individual administrative rules to protect and manage such areas. (Ord. 1648-91.)

(A) Whoever violates Sections 919.06, 919.07, 919.08, 919.09(C), (G), 919.11, 919.15, 919.16(C), 919.17, 919.18, 919.19, 919.21, 919.22, 919.23 or 919.25 is guilty of a minor misdemeanor and shall be fined not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00).
(B) Whoever violates Sections 919.12, 919.13, 919.14 or 919.24 is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree and shall be fined not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) or imprisoned for not more than thirty (30) days or both.
(C) Whoever violates Section 919.10 is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree and shall be fined not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisoned for not more than sixty (60) days or both.
(D) Whoever violates Section 919.09(A), (B), (D), (E), (F) is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree and shall be fined not to exceed seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) or imprisoned for not more than ninety (90) days or both.
(E) Whoever violates Sections 919.16(A), (B) or 919.20 is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree and shall be fined not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisoned for not more than six (6) months or both. (Ord. 1648-91; Ord. 738-97 § 1 (part).)