Rules & Regulations

When used herein the following definitions shall apply:
(a) The terms "parks," "parkways," "recreational areas," and other "areas operated and maintained by the village parks and recreation department" are defined to mean parks, wayside parks, parkways, playgrounds, recreation fields, museums, auditoriums, ranges and buildings, lakes, streams, canals, lagoons, waterways, water areas and therein and all public service facilities conducted on grounds, buildings, and structures in the village which are under the control of or assigned for upkeep, maintenance or operation by the parks and recreation department and Pinecrest Gardens.

(b) The term "park property" when used hereinafter is defined to cover all areas, buildings, locations, and facilities described in the foregoing paragraph.

(c) The terms "parks department" or "the department" when used hereinafter are defined as the parks and recreation department or Pinecrest Gardens and the term "department director" refers to the director of parks and recreation or Pinecrest Gardens or their designee.

(d) In construing the provisions hereof and each and every word, phrase or part thereof, where the context will permit, the definitions provided in F.S. § 1.01 shall apply.

It shall be the duty and responsibility of the village police department to enforce all state, county and village laws and these police regulations within all parks and other areas maintained and operated by the parks department.

The traffic ordinances of the county, the village and applicable state vehicle laws shall apply in and about all park property and in addition thereto the following traffic regulations shall be applicable.

(a) No person driving, operating, controlling or propelling any motorized vehicle shall use any other than the regularly designated paved or improved park roads or driveways, except when directed to do so by a police officer or department employee. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the use of any self-propelled wheelchair, power wheelchair, electric scooter, or other mobility device by an individual with a mobility impairment.

(b) No driver or operator of any vehicle shall obstruct traffic or park or stop on any road or driveway except at places so designated or in case of an emergency beyond his control.

No truck, commercial vehicle, or bus of any type shall be driven on any restricted park road or property without special authorization from the parks department for the purpose of park work, service or activities except that trucks and buses used for transporting persons to a park for recreational purposes will be afforded use of ingress and egress park roads and parking facilities as provided for conventional passenger vehicles.

No person shall ride, drive or propel any motorcycle, dirt bike, go cart or similar vehicle on any but the regular vehicular roads or other designated uses or areas except that such vehicles, with motors shut off, may be pushed by hand not faster than a walk over grassy areas normally reserved for the use of pedestrians and no person shall deviate from compliance with all traffic ordinance provisions governing the operation of bicycles while on park property. Violators of the provisions of this rule shall pay a fine not to exceed $100.00 for the first violation and $200.00 for each succeeding violation. Provisions of this rule shall not apply to the operation of these vehicles on those portions of park property specifically designated for such use.

No person shall park a vehicle any place on park property other than in the regular designated facilities provided for that particular type of vehicle, unless directed otherwise by police officers or parks staff who are authorized to designate other areas for parking when conditions so warrant. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the use of any self-propelled wheelchair, power wheelchair, or other mobility device by an individual with a mobility impairment.

No person shall:
(a) Destroy, damage or remove real property or improvements thereto, or movable or personal property, belonging to the village.

(b) Throw or deposit, or permit to be deposited or scattered upon any sidewalk, alley, street or public passageway, or upon any public or private property, any waste or other material of any kind.

(c) No person shall tamper or meddle with or alter the condition of any meter, valve or meter identification, or other part of such system in the village, or appliance connected thereto in such manner as to cause loss or damage to the owner of such facilities or the users thereof, or to create a hazard to life or property.

(d) Tamper with, injure, deface, destroy or remove any sign, notice, marker, fire alarm box, fireplug, topographical survey monument, or any other personal property erected or placed by the village.

(e) Move, disturb, or take any earth, stone or other material from any public street, alley, park or other public ground.

(f) No person shall write, paint, or draw any inscription, figure, or mark of any type on any public or private building or structure or other real or personal property, owned, operated, or maintained by the village. 

(g) No fires shall be built by any person against or adjacent to any park building, structure, tree or plant or near the property of others or in any area of any park except in such areas as are specifically designated for fire building and for which permission has been given by the parks department. 

(h) No person shall stand or sit on any fence rail or on any picnic table or any other structure not intended for such use in any park.

(a) No person shall molest, harm, frighten, kill, net, trap, snare, hunt, chase, shoot or throw or propel by any means missiles at any wildlife creature be it animal, bird or reptile roaming free about a park or in captivity in a cage, nor shall any person remove or possess the young of any wild animal or the nest or eggs of any reptile or bird or to collect, remove, possess, give away, sell or offer to sell, buy or offer to buy, or accept as a gift any specimen dead or alive of any of the group of tree snails.

(b) No person shall disobey posted notices prohibiting feeding animals, birds or reptiles which are on restricted diets.

(c) No person shall place, dump, abandon or leave any animal, reptile or bird, either wild or domestic, in an effort to find a home for such creature, on the grounds of any park.

(a) No person, regardless of age, sex or manner of dress shall swim, wade, or bathe in waters or waterways in or adjacent to any park.

(b) No person shall erect or cause to be erected any tent, shelter or structure on or in any beach, bathing or wading area in such a manner that a guide wire, rope, extension, brace or support connected or fastened from any such structure to any other structure, stake, rock or other object is necessary, nor shall any such structure, tent or shelter lack an unobstructed view of the interior from at least two (2) sides unless authorized by the village.

(a) No person shall bring any motorized vessels, including, but not limited to, boats, personal watercraft, etc. in any park property watercourses, bays, lagoons, lakes, canals, rivers, ponds, or sloughs other than those so designated for such use or purpose by the parks department and then only in strict conformance with Chapter 7 of the Code of Miami-Dade County (Metropolitan Safe Boating Ordinance). 
(b) No person shall moor, anchor or tie up to the bank or any wharf, dock, tree, building, rock or any object or structure on the bank in waters within or contiguous to any park within 200 feet of the shore line unless the owner, or his representative, of the any motorized vessels, including, but not limited to, boats, personal watercraft, etc., has obtained written permission from the Parks department, except that if the boat or ship is the property of the government of the United States, or is in distress, or ties up at a dock, wharf or pier designated for such purpose and then only long enough to enable the occupants to obtain food, fuel, water, bait, tackle or marine supplies.

No person, adult or minor, shall fish in park waters, either fresh or salt, by use of hook and line, seine, net, trap, spear gig or other device except at such places and in such areas as have been prescribed for such usage which will include stretches on ocean beaches marked by movable signs in areas other than those used for bathing.

No hunting, trapping or the pursuit of wildlife by any means or method whatsoever will be permitted on or in any park area.

No person shall build, light or cause to be lighted any fire upon the ground or other object in any area except in an approved grill, stove, fireplace or other suitable container without written permission from the parks department, nor shall any person starting a fire leave the area without extinguishing the fire.

No person or persons shall engage in rough or potentially dangerous games or practice for same, such as football, baseball, softball, horseshoes, quoits, tennis, volleyball, badminton or any other games, practice or exercise involving thrown or otherwise propelled objects such as balls, stones, arrows, javelins, shuttlecocks, model aircraft or roller skates except in the areas specifically designated and set aside for such recreational usages.

(a) No person may bring into, or have in that person's possession, or set off or otherwise cause to explode, discharge or burn in any park area or on any public lands or highways adjacent thereto, any firecrackers, torpedoes, rockets, or cannon or other fireworks or explosives of inflammable material that may explode, discharge or burn, unless that person first obtains a written permit from the Department Director.

(b) Parents or guardians will be held strictly responsible and accountable for the actions of minors in regards to the prohibitions in the foregoing paragraph.

(a) No person shall be permitted to take any domestic animal other than a horse, as provided in Rule27, into any park whether on leash, in arms or running at large, dogs in particular being excluded, and provisions of chapter 5 (sections 5-3 through 5-15) of the Code of Miami-Dade County (Dade County Dog Control Ordinance No. 58-28) shall apply to any and all park property. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the use of a service animal which means any dog guide or other animal individually trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.

(b) Cattle, horses, other than as provided in Rule27, mules, swine, sheep, goats, or fowl shall not be allowed upon park property and all owners or attendants of such animals are charged with the duty of preventing such occurrences but this prohibition does not apply to animals and fowl kept by the parks department or under its direction.

Using the fountains, ponds, lakes, streams, bays, or any other bodies of water within the parks, or the tributaries, storm sewers or drains flowing into them as dumping places for any substance or matter or thing which will or may result in the pollution of said waters is prohibited.

(a) No person will deposit or drop or place any refuse including bottles, broken glass, ashes, paper, boxes, cans, dirt, rubbish, waste, garbage, tobacco products or containers of foil upon the ground or in or on any other park property except in the receptacles provided for trash disposal.

(b) No person shall vandalize, deface or destroy any park property.

No person operating, directing, or responsible for any airplane, helicopter, glider, hot air balloon, dirigible, parachute or other aerial apparatus including radio controlled aircraft will take off from or land in or on any park land or waterway, except when human life is endangered or written permission has been obtained from the department director.

(a) It shall be the duty and responsibility of the village police department and parks staff to enforce these rules.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required by these rules or for any person to fail to comply with any lawful and reasonable order given by police officers or parks staff.

No person shall be or remain in any part of any park which is fenced in or provided with gates between the closing of the gates at night and their reopening on the following day; nor shall any person be or remain in any park not fenced in or provided with gates, during posted closing hours, except in areas designated as 24-hour launching areas, and except that persons and vehicles may pass through such parks without stopping, on the most direct walk or driveway leading from their point of entrance to the exit nearest to their point of destination. The provisions of this section shall not apply to police officers or parks department employees while in the discharge of their duties nor to persons having a permit in writing to be or remain in any part of the parks between such hours. The department director has the authority to establish exceptions to the closing hours as set forth above when it is in the interest of the public health, safety or welfare.

No person shall enter upon any part of any park which is in an unfinished state or under construction or withheld from general public usage in the interest of public safety, health and/or welfare unless otherwise authorized by the department director.

(a) No vehicles except those authorized by the parks department to carry passengers for hire or for fare will be permitted to so operate in the parks and these vehicles will be the only ones which pedestrians may hail for rides.

(b) No person shall change any parts, repair, wash, grease, wax, polish or clean a vehicle on any park roadway, parkway, driveway, parking lot or other park property.

(a) No person shall engage in recreational or other activities other than those prescribed in certain areas set aside for such purposes.

(b) No person shall dress or undress except in such structures as may be provided and maintained by the parks department for that purpose and dressing or undressing in any vehicle, in any park area except as provided above is prohibited.

(c) The parks staff will regulate activities in picnic areas when necessary to prevent congestion and to secure the maximum use for the comfort and convenience of all. If the facilities are crowded, persons holding picnics in any park picnic area, building or structure, will avoid using same to the exclusion of others for an unreasonable time, the determination of what is unreasonable being at the discretion of the parks staff. Use of the individual fireplaces, together with tables and benches, follows generally the rule of "first come, first served."

(d) No person or organization shall conduct bingo games, card games for money or participate in any other forms of gambling within park limits whether they are for charity or otherwise unless specifically authorized in writing by the department director.

No person entering or upon park and recreation areas shall make excessive unnecessary noise and all provisions of the Code of Ordinances shall apply to and be enforced in all park areas.

No person shall engage in horseback riding in any park or parks department area other than those where provision for such is provided by clearly marked bridle paths, trails, and other necessary features and then only upon thoroughly broken and properly restrained animals that are ridden with care, prevented from grazing, straying unattended, untethered to any rock, tree or shrub and not ridden or led on any park land other than that so designated.

No person, persons, organization or firm other than the parks department or regularly licensed concessionaires acting by and under the authority of the village will expose or offer for sale, rent or trade, any article or thing, or station or place any stand, cart, or vehicle for the transportation, sale or display of any article or merchandise within the limits of any park or recreation area.

No person shall advertise or obtain publicity through any means whatsoever within or upon any park property without obtaining specific approval in advance and in writing from the department director and such approval will be so worded as to prohibit damage to or marring of park property or vegetation, disturbance of park patrons or erection, painting or displaying of anything unsightly or in disharmony with park beauty.

(a) No band, procession, military company, or any company or group with flags, banners, or transparencies, shall be allowed within any park without first obtaining a special event permit in accordance with article IX of chapter 16 of the Village Code.

(b) No entertainment or exhibition shall be given in any park or recreation area excepting the entertainments given under the direction and authority of the parks department.

(c) No public meeting of any kind nor any public speaking by any person, persons, representatives of any political party, social club or society, officer aspirant, religious sect, theatrical or circus group, act, rite or ceremony, or other public exhibition shall be held in any park, parkway, playground or other recreational area without first obtaining a special event permit in accordance with article IX of chapter 16 of the Village Code.

(d) No person will perform acrobatic acts or feats, or make any display or exhibit or carry on any performance of doing anything that will cause numbers of persons to congregate to the interference or obstruction of traffic or to other proper use of a park or recreational area.

(e) No intoxicated persons will be permitted entry to parks or recreation areas and, if discovered therein, will be ejected forthwith.

No person will loiter in or around any restroom or dressing room.

Drinking of alcoholic liquors or beverages and the bringing of such into the park areas shall be permitted only for village sponsored or sanctioned events and only upon the written authorization by the department director.

(a) It shall be the duty and responsibility of police officers and parks staff to enforce all provisions of permits issued by the parks department.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required by any permit issued by the parks department.

(a) Normally the larger picnic shelters and their facilities will be used only on reservation which must be obtained in advance and must be for a specific time and duration but such facilities, however, may be used by the public during unreserved periods if occasion demands and it is deemed feasible by the department director. Reservations for picnic shelters shall be subject to the provisions of the permit.

(b) Unless the department director otherwise authorizes in writing, financial arrangement in connection with picnics held in a park either on a reserved basis or otherwise must be made outside the limits of the park, and the sale of tickets, acceptance of money, soliciting or accepting donations or offerings for food, drink or refreshment, in order to defray the expenses of a picnic or to realize a profit therefrom is prohibited and subjects a permit holder to immediate cancellation of said permit.

All persons, groups or firms who distribute printed or written materials or solicit funds at parks and other municipal facilities during special events shall do so only from fixed table locations designated by staff. The village shall designate such space and provide it free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. This policy applies alike to all persons or entities that are solely distributing written materials or seeking monetary contributions. No sales of any kind shall be permitted in this designated area. This policy does not prohibit organizational representatives from walking about the premises and communicating the organization's views to patrons in face-to-face discussions so long as no printed material, money or other material objects are exchanged in such encounters.

(Ord. No. 2001-01, § 2, 5-8-01; Ord. No. 2011-9, § 1, 9-16-11; Ord. No. 2015-1, § 2, 1-13-15; Ord. No. 2022-2, § 3, 1-11-22)

Any person convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, with the exception of sections 18-1, Rule 19(a) and Rule 30(a) and (c) shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $100.00. Violation of section 18-1, Rule 19(a), shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500.00. Violations of Rule 30(a) and (c) of section 18-1 shall be punished in accordance with section 16-87 of chapter 16 of the Village Code.

(Ord. No. 2001-01, § 2, 5-8-01; Ord. No. 2022-2, § 3, 1-11-22)