Park Rules

EL FRANCO LEE
COMMISSIONER

HARRIS COUNTY
Precinct One Parks Department
6702 Willardville
Houston, Texas
(713) 991-6881

RULES AND REGULATIONS
FOR COUNTY PARKS IN
HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS

Section 2: ADMINISTRATION
The Commissioners Court hereby designates the Park Superintendent, along with the Harris County Sheriff, the Harris County Constables, and their respective deputies to enforce these rules and regulations.

Section 3: AREA COVERED
Except as expressly exempted in these rules and regulations, they shall apply to all county parks located within Harris County, Texas.

Section 4: DEFINITIONS
As used in these rules and regulations:

(a) "Alcoholic Beverage" means any beverage containing more than one-half of one percent (.5%) of alcohol by volume, which is suitable for use as a beverage, either alone or diluted;
(b) "Commissioners Court" means the Commissioners Court of Harris County, Texas;
(c) "County" means Harris County, Texas;
(d) "Explosives" means any chemical compound or mixture that is commonly used or intended for the purpose of producing an explosion;
(f) "Light truck" means any truck with a manufacturer's rated carrying capacity not to exceed two thousand (2,000) pounds and is intended to include those trucks commonly known as pickup trucks, panel delivery trucks, carry-all trucks, and vans;
(g) "Park" means a park owned, operated, or maintained by Hams County for recreation and enjoyment by the general public;
(h) "Park Superintendent" means the individual named or designated as a Park Superintendent or Park Manager by the County Commissioner of the precinct occupied by the park or part thereof to which the rules are being applied;
(i) "Peace Officer" means a peace officer as defined in Tex. Code Cnm. Proc. Ann. art.
2.12, as amended;
(j) "Person" means any individual, group of individuals, organization, corporation or other legal entity, but does not include Harris County;
(k) "Pet" means a domesticated animal kept for pleasure rather than utility;
(1) "Road" is any road maintained or controlled by the County for public passage for vehicles within a park;
(m) "Special event" means a special, organized activity intended for more than fifty (50) individuals to share a common purpose as a group;
(n) "Vehicle" means every device in, upon, or by which any individual or property may be transported or drawn upon a road except a device moved by human power;
(o) "Weapon" means a rifle, bow and arrow, club, handgun, firearm, illegal knife, shot-gun, short-barrel firearm, gas gun or gas pistol, BB gun or BB pistol, pellet gun or pellet pistol, zip gun, sling or sling shot, and includes those objects defined as weapons or prohibited weapons in Chapter 46 of the Texas Penal Code, as amended; and
(p) "Wildlife" means living things that are neither human nor domesticated.

Section 5: HOURS OPEN
No person shall enter into or remain within a park at any time other than during such time as the park is open to the public as designated on the sign posted at or near the entrance of the park.

Section 6: VEHICLES

(a) No person shall operate a vehicle within a park except on the roads or parking lots within the park. Operation of a vehicle on the shoulder of the road will be permitted only if the driver is parking on the shoulder of the road or is driving a previously parked vehicle from the shoulder of the road to the paved portion of the road. This provision does not apply to park maintenance or patrol vehicles.
(b) No person shall operate a truck within a park. This provision does not apply to light trucks or trucks making deliveries of materials, supplies, and equipment purchased or rented by the County.
(c) No person shall operate a vehicle in a park at a speed in excess of the posted speed limit.
(d) No person shall cause a vehicle to be parked within a park except in a designated parking area. Vehicles parked on the shoulder of a road in designated areas must be parked parallel to the road.
(e) No person shall cause a vehicle to remain within a park after hours or in excess of twenty-four (24) hours at any given time unless one of the officers named in Section 2 is notified and approval is granted. Vehicles remaining within a park for which approval has not been granted will be towed and placed in storage by the appropriate peace officer at the owner's expense.

Section 7: WILDLIFE

(a) No person shall willfully harm, harass, trap, confine, catch or possess any wildlife within a park.
(b) Fishing in accordance with State of Texas laws and regulations shall be permitted within all parks, except as specifically prohibited.

Section 8: PLANT LIFE
No person shall willfully destroy or remove any tree, shrub, vine, wildflower, grass, fern, moss, leaves, cones, or dead or downed wood within a park.

Section 9: FIRES
Except in designated areas, no person may light, build, or maintain a fire within a park other than within a camp stove or barbecue pit. This rule does not apply to the lighting, burning, or smoking of a cigar, cigarette, or pipe used for the smoking of tobacco.

Section 10: WEAPONS
No person, other than a peace officer, may carry or possess a weapon within a park, except at specifically designated shooting and archery ranges or at special events for which weapons are expressly authorized in writing by the Park Superintendent.

Section 11: EXPLOSIVES
No person may possess gunpowder or other combustibles, explosives, or fireworks within a park. This provision does not apply to gasoline and other petroleum products in fuel tanks of motor vehicles nor to petroleum products intended to be used as fuel for cooking.

Section 12: ANIMALS
No person may bring into or possess in a park any animal other than a dog or domestic cat. Any person bringing a dog or domestic cat into a park shall keep the dog or domestic cat confined to a vehicle or secured by a leash not exceeding six (6) feet in length. No person shall bring into, or keep a horse in a park, except in areas or trails designated for horses.

Section 13: GLASS BEVERAGE CONTAINERS
No person shall use or possess any glass containers in a park.

(a) A person who desires to use the facility must make a reservation, pay the appropriate user fee, and furnish the appropriate deposit for cleanup costs and damages, if any, to County property. The user fees and cleanup deposits shall be based on the following schedule:

No. of Individuals User Fee Deposit
0 - 50 None $ 25.00
51 - 100 $ 25.00 $ 25.00
101 - 200 $ 50.00 $ 50.00
More than 200 $250.00 $125.00

If the area is not cleaned or if the facility or its furnishings are damaged, the Park Superintendent shall determine the amount necessary to compensate the County for the cost and expense of remedying this default. This amount shall be deducted from the deposit and the balance, if any, shall be refunded to the person who paid the deposit. In addition, the person that makes the reservation must employ and pay the required number of peace officers who will provide security during the reserved period. The minimum number of officers required for security is one (1) peace officer per 1 - 100 individuals.

(b) A person who desires to use the facility must make a reservation and furnish a deposit of one hundred and twenty-five dollars ($125) for cleanup costs and damages, if any, to County property. If the facility is not cleaned or if the facility or its furnishings are damaged, the Park Superintendent shall determine the amount necessary to compensate the County for the cost and expense of remedying this default. This amount shall be deducted from the deposit and the balance, if any, shall be refunded to the person who paid the deposit. In addition, the person that makes the reservation must employ and pay the required number of peace officers who will provide security during the reserved period. The minimum number of officers required for security is one (1) peace officer per 1 - 100 individuals.

(c) A person who desires to use the facility must make a reservation, pay a user fee of $50 per hour and furnish a deposit of $125 for cleanup costs and damages, if any, to County property. If the area is not cleaned or if the facility or its furnishings are damaged, the Park Superintendent shall determine the amount necessary to compensate the County for the cost and expense of remedying this default. This amount shall be deducted from the deposit and the balance, if any, shall be refunded to the person who paid the deposit. In addition, the person who makes the reservation must employ and pay the required number of peace officers who will provide security during the reserved period. The minimum number of officers required for security is one (1) peace officer per 1 - 100 individuals.

(d) A person using the area or facility must employ and pay the required number of peace officers who will provide security during the reserved period. The minimum number of officers required for security is one (1) peace officer per 1 - 100 individuals.

(e) No alcohol may be consumed in the baseball complex during games held by youth leagues. When no games are being conducted by youth leagues, alcohol may be consumed only if the person desiring to use the facility has employed and paid the required number of peace officers who will provide security during the reserved period. The minimum number of officers required for security is one (1) peace officer per 1 - 100 individuals.

(f) Alcoholic beverages may be consumed only if authorized in the concessionaire's agreement or rental contract.

General Conditions or Restrictions:
Any person may reserve a pavilion or other designated park facility (i.e. meeting room in a community center) by submitting a request to the Park Superintendent on any weekday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Use of the pavilion or other park facility will be approved by the Park Superintendent on a first-come, first-served basis. Requests must be delivered at least ten (10) days prior to the proposed use, but no person, except a concessionaire who has contracted with the County, shall be entitled to continuous, exclusive use of a park or park facility.

Section 15: USE OF LOUDSPEAKERS
Use of loudspeakers within a park shall be governed by Penal Code § 42.0l(a)(5) and (c), Disorderly Conduct.

Section 16: DUMPING AND LITTERING
The disposal of rubbish in any manner other than by depositing it in trash cans provided for this purpose; the willful destruction of or damage to or theft of county property; the creation of any hazard to persons or things; and the climbing upon plant bedding areas or any part of a public building, is prohibited. No person shall bring into a park any trash, refuse, or waste material.

Section 17: SOLICITATION AND SALE OF GOODS AND SERVICES
The solicitation or the sale of goods and services are prohibited unless the person receives the prior written approval of the Commissioners Court.

Section 18: CAMPING
No person shall engage in overnight camping in a park, except when authorized by the Park Superintendent in an area specifically designated for camping.

Section 19: SPECIAL EVENTS
No person shall solicit for, hold, or sponsor a special event in a park or a park facility without the prior written permission of the Park Superintendent, who shall require the provision of liability insurance in the amounts of $100,000 for injury or death to one person, $300,000 for injury or death to more than one person and $100,000 for injury or damages to property in any one accident or occurrence, naming the County as insured, and the furnishing of one or more peace officers, depending on the size of the special event, for security. The minimum number of officers required for security is one (1) peace officer per 1 - 100 individuals.

Section 20: PARK USE
No person shall use any area or facility of a park for any purpose other than for the purpose for which it was designed or designated.

Section 21: SPECIAL PROVISIONS
The following special provisions shall apply to the parks designated:

The Astrodomain Complex is exempt from the application of these Rules and Regulations.

Jones Park, Ray Miller Park and Alief Amity Park: No pets allowed.

Mercer Arboretum:

(a) No pets allowed in the Botanical Gardens.
(b) Picnicking shall be allowed in designated areas only.
(c) No special events may be held in the Botanical Gardens.

Section 22: EFFECT ON EXISTING LAW
These rules and regulations are in addition to, and not in lieu of, all federal and state laws, rules and regulations applicable within a park.

Section 23; ENFORCEMENT
The Park Superintendent or his designee shall be authorized to remove any person who violates any of these rules and regulations from the park. In addition to removal from the park, charges may be filed against a violator under Section 27.

Section 24; SEVERABILITY
The provisions of these rules and regulations are severable. If any word, phrase, clause, sentence, section, provision, or part of these rules and regulations should be held invalid or unconstitutional, it shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions, and it is hereby declared to be the intent of the Commissioners Court that these rules and regulations would have been adopted as to the remaining portions, regardless of the invalidity of any part.

Section 25: AMENDMENTS
These Rules and Regulations may be reviewed and amended from time to time by the Commissioners Court.

Section 26: POSTING
These Rules and Regulations shall be conspicuously posted at or near the entrance of all County parks.

Section 27: OFFENSE
In accordance with Texas Local Government Code § 320.0455, a violation of these Rules and Regulations is an offense punishable as a Class C misdemeanor.

Section 28: EFFECTIVE DATE
These Rules and Regulations shall become effective on the date indicated in the Commissioners Court order adopting same. All previously adopted Rules and Regulations are superseded and repealed effective the same date.