Chapter 12 · Public Property

Article 1. City Parks

Sections 12-101 to 12-113 · 13 sections

12-101 City laws extended to park.

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

(Code 1990)

12-102 Police jurisdiction over parks.

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

(Code 1990)

12-103 Damaging park property.

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 or improvement or property of any kind belonging to any park owned by the city.

(Code 1990)

12-104 Dangerous weapons not allowed.

(a)Except as provided 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 1990)

12-105 Vehicle regulations.

(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 1990)

12-106 Hunting and fishing.

(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to trap, maim, kill, shoot or take any wildlife, either bird or animal, in any manner at any time while in any city park.

(b)The provisions of subsection (a) shall not apply to the following:

(1)Any Law Enforcement Officer in the course of their duty;

(2)Any Federal or State nuisance permit holder authorized to remove nuisance animals; and

(3)Any person approved by the Chief of Police to remove a nuisance animal, provided such removal complies with all applicable federal laws, including but not limited to the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and all applicable Kansas statutes and regulations governing humane treatment, trapping, and removal of animals.

(c)It shall be lawful to fish at Interstate Park during normal park hours as established in Hesston City Code, 12-113.

(d)It shall be unlawful to fish in any pond on Hesston Golf Course during regular golf operations, except for the North, East and South side of the large irrigation pond.

(e)All fishing at the Hesston Golf Course is prohibited between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 05:00 a.m., in accordance with Hesston City Code, Section 12-113.

(Code 1990; Ord 170-2025-009)

12-107 Fires.

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 1990)

12-108 Camping prohibited.

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

(Code 1990)

12-109 Sanitation.

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 1990)

12-110 Prohibition against alcoholic beverages and cereal malt beverages.

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to use, consume or have on the premises of any park or other city property within the city any alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage.

(Code 1990)

12-111 Preservation of natural state.

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 1990)

12-112 General regulations.

The city may post such rules and regulations, as are approved by the governing body, pertaining to the use of the city parks in a conspicuous place in each city park. Violations of these posted rules shall constitute a violation of this code.

(Code 1990)

12-113 Curfew.

It shall be unlawful for any person in be in a city park or parking lots during the period of time between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m. on each day of the year.