As used in this article, public grounds include the city buildings, city parks, fairgrounds, and other public property unless otherwise specifically provided.

(Code 1977, 12.32.010)

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

(Code 2007)

The city shall have police regulations governing any public grounds 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 public grounds and shall maintain order therein.

(Code 2007)

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, planting or improvement or property of any kind belonging to any park or public grounds owned by the city.

(Code 2007)

(a)   Except as provided by law, or in subsection (b), it shall be unlawful for any person to carry or have in his or her possession any firearm or dangerous weapon or to shoot or discharge the same within the limits of any city parks.

(b)   The provisions of subsection (a) above shall not apply to duly authorized law enforcement officers in the performance of official duty.

(Code 2007)

(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 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 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 2007)

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 2007)

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 2007)

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

(Code 2007)

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 2007)

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to use, consume or have on the premises of any park or other City-owned property within the City any alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage, except as defined in Chapter 3 of the City Code of the City of Hiawatha, Kansas.

(Ord. 2004; Code 2022)

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 2007)

(a)   The city may adopt and post such rules and regulations, as are approved by the governing body, pertaining to the use of the city parks and public grounds in a conspicuous place in each city park and facility. Violations of these posted rules shall constitute a violation of this code. Such rules and regulations shall fix the conditions under which the grounds and facilities may be used and the charges, where authorized, to be paid to the city for such purposes.

(b)   No exclusive right or privilege may be granted permanently to any individual, society or organization of any kind, except that such person or groups may make reservations for the exclusive use of such grounds and facilities for temporary periods only.

(c)   The city commission may, in accordance with sound public policy, grant permission for use of the grounds or facilities for such purposes as may not be inconsistent with the use for which the grounds or facilities were acquired and made available for use by the city.

(Code 1977, 12.32.020)

(a)   The city commission may, on application to the city clerk, grant permission for the use of the public grounds of the city by persons, organizations, or companies for concessions, carnivals, fairs, and other like public displays or entertainment.

(b)   Any swimming pool owned by the city may be leased to private persons for a season together with any concessions to be operated in connection therewith, as may be provided in such agreement.

(Code 1977, 12.32.030)

No person, partnership or corporation, or any agent, servant or employee thereof, shall construct or erect any tent or structure on the public grounds of the city, or place or leave any wagon, vehicle, paraphernalia or equipment on any of the grounds without the consent of the city commission.

(Code 1977, 12.32.040)