Title 10 - Parks and Recreation

10.08.010 Hours.

All parks owned and operated by the City shall be closed for use by the public between the hours of ten p.m. and five a.m.; provided, however, parks may be closed temporarily or opening hours extended temporarily in case of emergency, adverse weather conditions, or unusual circumstances as determined and ordered by the Director of Parks and Recreation.

(History: Ord. PR-830 §1, 75;PR-763 §1, 73)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.020 Camping.

Overnight camping on park property shall be allowed only by special permit issued to organized sponsored groups by the Director of Parks and Recreation. Special permits for overnight camping shall be issued for Indian Creek Camping Area only.

A "sponsored organized group" means any group or organization having local or national recognition and affiliation with organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of America, Cub Scouts, YMCA, Indian Guides and church groups.

(History: Ord. PR-763 §2, 73)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.030 Camping Reservations.

All requests for special permits as provided for in 10.08.020 shall be submitted to the Director of Parks and Recreation in letter form within 15 days of the desired date of reservation with the following information: Name of group, sponsoring agency, number in group, name and number of sponsors that will be present, designation of the park desired, designation of area to be utilized, and the inclusive dates of the reservation. No special permit shall be issued for more than three consecutive nights of camping. There shall be a minimum of one adult sponsor present for every ten members of the group. For purposes of this section "adult sponsor" is defined as a person 18 years of age or more.

(History: Ord. PR-763 §3, 73)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.040 Picnic Shelter Reservations.

All requests for reservations of picnic shelters shall be made by phone to the parks and recreation department at least seven days prior to the date requested. Notification of approval or denial of reservation shall be by mail. Groups of at least 20 persons and not more than 100 may reserve a picnic shelter.

(History: Ord. PR-763 §4, 73)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.045 Athletic Fields, Courts, and Areas Reservations.

The Director of Parks and Recreation shall establish rules and regulations for use of the athletic fields, courts, and areas. Any fees for use of athletic fields, courts, and areas shall be fixed by the City Manager pursuant to the Parks and Recreation Fee and Cost Recovery Policy as adopted by the Governing Body and the City Manager or their designee may establish any and all policies or waivers related to the same. 

(History: Ord. P-3399 §3, 2023; Ord. PR-830 §2, 75)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.050 Special Permit or Reservation Denial - Appeal.

Any person aggrieved by the denial of a special permit or reservation under the provisions of this chapter may appeal to the City Council for a review by filing a notice of appeal with the City Clerk within ten days after receipt of such denial.

(History: Ord. PR-763 §5, 73)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.070 Sanitation and Fires.

All waste material and refuse of any kind shall be deposited in disposal drums provided for such purpose and no such waste or contaminating material shall be discarded otherwise in or upon park land.

Fires may be built only in the ovens, stoves or ring pits provided by the City and must be extinguished before leaving the area. Fires may be prohibited entirely as a protective measure from time to time by the posting by the City of special warning signs and may be part of the conditions upon which special permits or reservations are given.

(History: Ord. PR-763 §7, 73)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.080 Swimming, Bathing and Wading

Swimming, bathing and wading are prohibited except at such times and in such locations as are approved by the City.

(History: Ord. PR-763 §8, 73)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.090 Hunting.

No person shall pursue, catch, kill or take any wildlife except as provided in 10.08.100.

(History: Ord. PR-763 §9, 73)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.100 Fishing and Frogging.

Fish and game laws of the state of Kansas must be strictly observed while fishing at parks with the exception that the daily limit on Bluegill is set at 30 per fisherman, and no trotline, jug, blockline, gigging, seining, snaring, or snagging will be permitted at any time. This includes the requirement for all Kansas residents between the ages of 16 and 65 to have a Kansas State Fishing License. All non-residents of Kansas must have a state fishing license at 16 years of age or older.

For the purpose of interpretation of these rules, the word "fishing" and the word "frogging" are synonymous, wherever used.

(History: Ord. PR-1775 §1, 92; PR-763 §10, 73)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.110 Skating.

No person shall, at any time, skate except upon areas designated by the City and at such times and pursuant to such rules as the City has posted.

(History: Ord. PR-763 §11, 73)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.120 Firecrackers or Fireworks.

Firecrackers or fireworks are prohibited, except for fireworks displays on special events and then only as approved upon application to the City.

(History: Ord. PR-763 §12, 73)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.130 Steering and Sailing Rules.

Boats or crafts shall not be operated in a manner or at a speed greater than is safe and prudent under the circumstances, and the operator thereof shall observe all signs and directions placed on or near the lake and obey all orders and regulations of the City and its supervisory personnel. Boats with motors are prohibited.

(History: Ord. PR-763 §13, 73)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.140 Water Safety.

No boat or craft of any kind or character shall be operated on park waters unless it carries for each occupant a suitably designed life preserver in good condition and approved as adequate for that purpose, and every boat or craft of any kind or character shall have aboard oars of such size and number as required properly to operate the boat or craft. While a boat or craft is on the water each occupant shall properly wear a life jacket at all times.

No boat or craft may be used in racing or practicing therefor on park waters, except at such hours on such days as the City may from time to time specially designate therefor, and no boat shall be operated in such a manner as to endanger the lives or property of others.

(History: Ord. PR-763 §14, 73)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.142 Domestic Animals.

Domestic animals present within a park area shall be subject to the provisions of Title 6. The Director of Parks and Recreation may establish rules and regulations in addition thereto to prohibit such domestic animals from certain park areas to prevent damage and provide safe use of park areas. The Director of Parks and Recreation may establish certain park areas for use by owners of domestic animals for recreational purposes as dog and cat shows, bridal paths, and neighborhood circuses.

(History: Ord. PR-830 §3, 75)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.144 Motor Vehicles - Cycles - Prohibited.

1. A.
   Motor vehicles are specifically prohibited from operation within any City parks or bike-hike trails,​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​except for ​​​​​​​parking lots, parking ​​​​​​​access drives​​​​​​​, ​​​​​​​park streets, ​​​​​​​areas specifically established by the Director of Parks and Recreation for motor vehicle use, or as set forth in subsection B​​​​​​​. The presence of motor vehicles in parking lots, parking access drives, and park streets between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. is prohibited. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to:

   1. 1.
      Automobiles or trucks
   2. 2.
      Mopeds or motorized scooters (electric or otherwise)
   3. 3.
      Other motorized vehicles (electric or otherwise) such as golf carts, ATVs, motorcycles, autocycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices (e.g., segways), or other fuel-powered devices. ​​​​​​​ 
2. B.
   Subject to regulation by the Director of Parks and Recreation, the following motor vehicles are allowed  to be used on park trails and bike-hike trails:

   1. 1.
      Electric-assisted scooters as defined in Section 12.04.001 of the Code.
   2. 2.
      Electric-assisted bicycles as defined in Section 12.04.001 of the Code (including those commonly referred to as either Type 1 or Type 2 electric-assisted bicycles, which meet the definition of electric-assisted bicycle in Section 12.04.001 of the Code). 
   3. 3.
      Devices commonly referred to as, Type 3 electric-assisted ​​​​​bicycles, which is a bicycle with a throttle assisted motor that provides assistance only when rider is pedaling (pedal assist) and ceases when the bicycle reaches 28 miles per hour and is equipped with a speedometer.
   4. 4.
      Any other form of electric powered mobility device approved by the Director of Parks and Recreation which is consistent with the above exempted devices. 
   5. 5.
      Motor vehicles used by the Overland Park Police Department in the course of an officer's official duties. 

Provided, any allowed motor vehicle shall not exceed a maximum speed of 20 mph on any city trail. 

(History: Ord. PR-3441 §1, 2023; ​​​​​​​Ord. PR-830 §4, 75)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.146 Vandalism.

It is unlawful for any person to commit an act of vandalism in a park area by willfully injuring, damaging, mutilating, defacing, destroying, or substantially impairing any park area or improvement within a park area.

(History: Ord. PR-830 §5, 75)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.150 Commercial Uses.

No park area may be used for any commercial enterprise in any form except wherein the City is directly involved as a co-sponsor of an event or project.

(History: Ord. PR-763 §15, 73)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.160 Penalty for Violations.

Violation of any provision of this chapter is a public offense and any person, firm, association, partnership or corporation convicted thereof shall be punished as provided in 1.12.010.

(History: Ord. PR-763 §16, 73)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

10.08.170 Rules and Regulations.

The Director of Parks and Recreation is hereby authorized to make and enforce such additional rules and regulations as may be necessary for the management and operation of any of the lands, buildings, structures or facilities that are placed under the supervision of the Director of Parks and Recreation by action of the Governing Body or the City Manager. This regulatory authority shall be supplementary to any specific such authority contained elsewhere in the Overland Park Municipal Code. Such rules and regulations shall have the force and effect of law and the violation of those rules shall constitute a public offense and shall be enforced in the same manner as other violations of the Municipal Code. Violation of any adopted rules and regulations shall be grounds for eviction from the park lands, buildings or facilities and the denial, revocation or suspension of any permit issued or privilege granted by the Parks and Recreation Department. These rules and regulations must be approved by the Director and either posted in a conspicuous place in or on the park lands, buildings structures or facilities or be maintained in written form and available to the public in the office of the Director of Parks and Recreation prior to their becoming effective.

(History: Ord. PR-2233 §1, 2000)

Effective on: 1/1/1901