portage parks portage parks portage parks portage parks portage parks portage parks portage parks portage parks portage parks portage parks portage parks portage parks portage parks portage parks portage parks portage parks portage parks

Rules for Safety and Fairness
Rules For The Protection of Resources
Rules and Regulations (complete)
  > FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT THE PARK DISTRICT AT 330-673-9404

Rules for Safety and Fairness
• The park is open from dawn to dusk.
• Dogs must be leashed and kept under control at all times.
• Alcohol, other intoxicants, and illegal substances are prohibited.
• Firearms, weapons and fireworks are prohibited.
• Motor vehicles are prohibited unless special permission is granted.
• Horses and bikes prohibited (except where noted otherwise).
• Commercial activities are prohibited unless special permission is granted.
• Disorderly conduct, including excessive loudness, loitering and indecency, is prohibited.
• Visitors must stay on designated trails. Agricultural areas are not open to the public.
• Trespassing onto adjacent property is prohibited.
• Special events must be scheduled in advance.
  back to top

Rules For The Protection of Resources
• Fires are permitted only in designated areas.
• Removal or disturbance of vegetation is prohibited.
• The planting of seeds or plants in the park is prohibited without the written permission from the Director.
• Hunting or harming wild animals is prohibited.
• The release of animals on park land is prohibited without written permission from the Director.
• Refuse must be disposed of in trash and recycling barrels.
• Dumping of trash generated off-site is prohibited.
• Removal or alteration of Park property is prohibited.
  back to top

 

Portage Park District Rules and Regulations
For the preservation of good order and to ensure the protection of the natural resources of the Portage Park District, these rules and regulations have been established.
The Portage Park District is committed to the service of all park visitors so that an enjoyable, safe, and pleasant park experience is possible. Park Rangers are present to provide information, education, and assistance to park visitors and to achieve resource protection, visitor safety and security. Your cooperation in following the rules and regulations benefits all park visitors.
Contact a Park Ranger should assistance be required while visiting the Portage Park District Parks or, if there is an emergency call 911 and inform the dispatcher of your name, location, and the type of emergency.

The Rules and Regulations of the Portage Park District have been established in accordance with the following State of Ohio statues:

Sec. 1545.09, Ohio Revised Code
The Board of Park Commissioners shall adopt such bylaws, rules, and regulations as the board deems advisable for the preservation of good order within and adjacent to the parks and reservations of land, and for the protection and preservation of the parks, parkways, and other reservations of land under its jurisdiction and control and of the property and natural life therein. Such bylaws, rules, regulations shall be published as provided in case ordinances of municipal corporations before taking effect. No person shall violate any such bylaws, rules, or regulations. All fines collected for any violation of this section shall be paid into the treasury of such park board.

Sec. 1545.13, Ohio Revised Code
Such employees as the Board of Park Commissioners designates for that purpose may exercise all the power of police officers within and adjacent to the lands under the jurisdiction and control of such board. Before exercising such powers, such employees shall take an oath, and give bond to the state in such sum as the board prescribes, for the proper performance of their duties in such respect.

Sec. 1545.99, Ohio Revised Code
A.) Whoever violates section 1545.09 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars for the first offense; for each subsequent offense such person shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.
Terms
The term “Park” as used herein, means any land owned or controlled by the Board of Park Commissioners of the Portage Park District.
The term “Board” means the Board of Commissioners of the Portage Park District.
The term “Person” includes persons and corporations.
The term “Director” shall mean the Executive Director-Secretary.

1. Preservation of property and Natural Features
No person shall injure, deface, or disturb any part of the Park nor any building, sign, or equipment, or other property found therein; nor shall any plant, rock, or other mineral be removed, injured, or destroyed.

2. Deposit of Materials
2.1. No person, without specific written consent of the Director, shall bring into, leave behind, or dump, deposit, permit or allow to be deposited, in any part of the Park, any soil, rock, vegetation, garbage, ashes, sewage, waste or other noxious material, except that which is produced by a picnic or other permitted activity, which shall be deposited in the receptacles provided for such purposes.
2.2. No person shall introduce any wild or domestic plant, nor culture any seed or vegetation of any type in any park without the written permission of the Director.

3. Hunting, Fishing, and Molesting of Wildlife
3.1 Hunting
No person shall hunt, collect, pursue with dogs, trap or in any other way molest any wild bird or animal found within the confines of the Park, or therein rob or disturb any nest or den or take eggs of any or young of any animal, unless authorized by written permission of the Director.
3.2 Fishing
Fishing is prohibited except in specially designated areas. In all park waters, fishing shall be subject to the statutes of the State of Ohio and to any additional restrictions set by the Director.
3.3. Release of Animals No Person shall release any wild or domestic animal in any park without written permission of the Director.

4. Fires
4.1 Permitted Fires No person shall start a fire in any Park, except for supervised cooking fires, and only in such places provided for that purpose. All fires shall be extinguished by the person or persons starting or using the fire, before leaving the immediate vicinity of the fire. The Director may, at his or her discretion, prohibit fires or smoking at any location within the park or park property when deemed necessary for the protection of public health or park property.

5. Firearms, Weapons and Fireworks
No person except for Park Rangers or other law enforcement officials, shall carry or use firearms of any description, or air rifle, bow, sling shot or missile throwing device, within the park, or discharge any firearms, fireworks or explosive substances, or air rifle therein without written permission from the Director.

6.Camps
No person shall establish or maintain any camp or other temporary lodging place without specific written permission from the Director

7.Disorderly Conduct
No person shall either by word or act, indulge in any noisy, boisterous, disorderly or indecent conduct; or in any manner disturb the peace or good order of the community within the Park; nor shall any person engage in any active game endangering other persons in the Park; nor shall any person play at games of chance, drink intoxicating liquor, or be drunk, or do any indecent, lascivious, lewd, or improper act therein. No person shall enter a toilet room set apart for the opposite sex.

7.1 Beer and Intoxicating Beverages No person shall bring into, have, keep, carry, serve or drink beer or any intoxicating beverage within the Park. The term beer or intoxicating beverage shall include any drink containing alcohol whatsoever.

7.2 Public Indecency and Nudity Persons appearing on park lands or facilities managed and/or controlled by the Portage Park District serving Portage County (including but not limited to lands, waters and beaches) shall not intentionally or recklessly do any of the following under circumstances in which his or her conduct is likely to be viewed by and affront others, not members of his or her household:
A.) Expose his or her private parts (including buttocks) with less than a full opaque covering;
B.) Engage in any actual or simulated sexual conduct;
C.) Violate any Ohio Revised Code provisions related to nudity and/or public indecency including Ohio Revised Code 2907.01(H) and 2907.09.

8.Traffic
8.1 No person shall operate a motor vehicle, except for motorized wheelchairs and authorized maintenance vehicles, on any portion of park property except the drives and roadways clearly marked for such purposes. The Director or Park Ranger may order park roads closed during construction, for repairs, or because of emergencies. No person may drive on a park road which has been closed and posted with appropriate signs or barricades.

8.2 No person shall drive or propel, or cause to be driven or propelled, along or over any road within the Park any vehicle at a greater rate of speed than twenty-five (25) miles per hour. No person shall operate any vehicle upon any park property without being in reasonable control of the vehicle.
8.3 No person shall drive or propel, or cause to be driven or propelled, along or over any road within the Park, any vehicle over 10,000 lbs. gross weight without written permission from the Director.

8.4 No person shall park any motorcar, motorcycle, bicycle, wagon, or other vehicle within the Park, except in a place designated by the Director for such purpose.

8.5 No person shall park any car, trailer, unattached or attached to a motor vehicle, within or upon the parkways, parks, reservations, or other lands owned, controlled, or supervised by the Board without written permission from the Director.

8.6 No person shall park any motorcar, motorcycle, bicycle, wagon, or other vehicle within the Park after park operation hours without written permission of the Director. Any vehicle left without permission shall be removed from the park at the owner’s expense. Repair or service of vehicles on park property is prohibited, except with written permission from the Director.

8.7 The state law regarding lights on vehicles shall apply to vehicles within the Park.

8.8 No portion of the Park shall be used for purpose of a roadway, except drives, roadways, paths, walks, and trails established for such purpose. Footpaths and multipurpose trails shall not be used for vehicular travel, except with written permission from the Director.

8.10 No person shall ride any horse or other animal within the Park, except upon bridle paths established for horseback riders.
8.11 No person shall operate powered model toys, including model airplanes on park property without written permission from the Director.

9. Commercial Enterprises
No person shall sell or offer for sale any article, thing, privilege or service within the Park without a permit from the Director, and no person shall do any begging, hawking, peddling or soliciting therein.

10. Signs
No person shall expose, distribute or place any sign, advertisements, circular, notice or statement or display any banner, emblem or design, within the Park, without written permission from the Director.

11. Grazing
No person shall herd, graze, drive or permit to run at large within the Park any cattle, horse, mule, donkey, goat, swine, sheep, or other animal, or any poultry or other fowl.

 12. Pets and other Animals

12.1 Pets No person shall permit a dog, cat or other animal to run out of his or her control at any time. All pets shall be kept on a leash no longer than eight (8) feet and be under the control of a responsible person. Pets must not behave in a way that startles, threatens or disturbs other park visitors, pets, or the natural resources or the park. All dogs will have a current license issued by the county in which they reside upon a collar secured around their neck at all times while in the Park.

12.2 Feeding of Animals No person, except authorized employees of the Portage Park District, shall feed, place or distribute feed materials within the Park without permission from the Director. The term feed materials shall include, but is not limited to: bread, table scraps, manufactured pet or wildlife foods, grains and seeds.

12.3 Releasing of Animals No person shall bring any animal into the park for purpose of releasing said animal, nor shall any person release any animal within a park, without written permission from the Director.

13 Hours of Operation
13.1 General hours of operation are dawn to dusk daily. No person shall enter or remain on the land or premises of the Portage Park District at any time when the parks are not designated as open for use except with express written permission of the Board of Park Commissioners or the Director.

13.2 Employees of the Portage Park District who have management, public safety or law enforcement authority may temporarily close specific areas within parks or reservations of land under the control of the Portage Park District for reasons of public safety, resource protection, or for law enforcement reasons. Maintenance personnel may close parks, parkways, parking lots, or areas temporarily for construction, reconstruction, or maintenance purposes.
When the use of parks or areas within the parks, or areas under the control of the Portage Park District is restricted to certain persons, purposes, modes, or hours of operation, and such restriction is actually communicated to persons, or is posted on Portage Park District signs in conspicuous locations, or when access is restricted or prevented by fences, gates or other barriers, no person shall violate such restrictions.

13.3 Hour of Operation of Specific Areas Specific areas or parks may be open at other times due to specific programs, services sponsored by the Portage Park District, or seasons of the year. Park District sponsored programs may be scheduled at such times as are reasonably necessary to effect their purpose.

13.3 Schedule of Hours of Operation
The Director is authorized to maintain a schedule of hours of operation for the parks.
  back to top

email - phone 330.297.7728 - 128 N. Prospect St. Ravenna, Ohio 44266