Park Rules
Richfield Joint Recreation District Richfield Heritage Preserve Park Rules
​SECTION ONE: ENFORCEMENT
1.1 Failure to Obey: No person shall fail or refuse to comply with any reasonable order relating to these Rules and Regulations or any other order lawfully given by a Police Officer or authorized representative of Richfield Joint Recreation District, or willfully resist, obstruct, or abuse any officer or other official in the execution of their office.
1.2 Interfering with Park Functions: No person shall threaten, resist, intimidate, or intentionally interfere with, obstruct or delay an employee or authorized agent of Richfield Joint Recreation District engaged in an official duty, or on account
of the performance of an official duty.
1.3 Loss of Park Privileges: Any person violating these Rules and Regulations may be removed from the Park and lose the privilege of entering the Park for a reasonable period of time designated by the RJRD Board Chairperson/Administrator.
1.4 Prosecution: Persons who violate any federal, state, or municipal law or ordinance by acts committed in or against the Park will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
SECTION 2. PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY AND NATURAL FEATURES
2.1 Destruction of Park Property: No person shall knowingly injure, deface, disturb, or destroy any tree, flower, shrub, rock, building, sign, equipment or any other property or feature within the Park.
2.2 Removal of Natural Features: No person shall collect, remove, or otherwise disturb any part of the Park, including but not limited to any tree, flower, shrub, mushroom, rock, soil, sand, gravel, mineral, or fossil. Persons seeking to collect materials, other than fallen leaves, for educational or research purposes must obtain a written permit from
the RJRD.
2.3 Introduction of Natural Features: No person shall bring, leave,
or plant within the Park any tree, flower, shrub, plant, mushroom, rock, soil, sand, gravel, mineral, or fossil without first obtaining written permit from the RJRD.
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2.4 Barricades, Signs, and Warning Lights: No person shall destroy, remove, damage or extinguish any barricade, sign, or warning light that has been placed in the Park by employees or other authorized representatives of RJRD.
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2.5 Rappelling and Rock Climbing: No person shall engage in rappelling or any type of rock climbing activity within the confines of the Park, other than in designated areas.
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2.6 Metal Detectors Prohibited Without Permit: No person shall use any device for the purpose of locating or removing metallic objects or other objects of value from within the Park without written permission from the RJRD Board Chairperson/Administrator.
SECTION 3. DISPOSAL OF REFUSE
3.1 Garbage and Debris: No person, without obtaining a written permit from the RJRD Board Chairperson/Administrator, shall leave behind, or dump in any part of the Park, garbage, ashes, sewage, refuse, waste, earth, or debris of any kind, other than such materials which are used in or result from a picnic, camp, or other permitted activity and which are deposited in places and receptacles provided for that purpose, nor shall any person bring hazardous or noxious materials into the Park.
3.2 Preservation of Park Waters: No person shall place or permit to be placed in any river, brook, stream, ditch, or drain that flows into or through the Park, any hazardous or noxious materials which may render Park waters harmful or detrimental to the public health or to animal, vegetative, or aquatic life, or which may prevent, limit, or interfere with the use of such waters for domestic, industrial, or agricultural purposes, or which may unreasonably lessen the use and enjoyment of such waters for recreational or other Park uses.
SECTION 4. HUNTING, FISHING AND WILDLIFE
4.1 No person within the confines of the Park shall pursue on foot or with dogs, or by the use of walkie-talkies, radios, planes, or any vehicle, or in any way intentionally bother or molest any wild animal or bird, or rob nests or dens of eggs or young of any animal or bird.
4.2 Fishing: Fishing is permitted in Park waters only in designated areas and at designated times, or under the authority of a written permit granted by the RJRD. A fishing license shall be required in accordance with Ohio law. The use of traps, spears, gigs, bows, arrows, or unattended hooks for fishing is prohibited. Fishing is catch-and-release only.
4.3 Feeding of Animals: Feeding of wildlife is strictly prohibited.
SECTION 5. FIRES
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5.1 Starting Fires: No person shall start a fire in the Park, except small charcoal fires for cooking in grills provided by the Park or in fire rings or other places designated by the Park for that purpose, without written permit issued by RJRD.
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5.2 All fires must be continuously attended and/or under the care and supervision of a competent person. All fires must be extinguished prior to leaving the vicinity.
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5.3 Bringing in Firewood Prohibited: Bringing firewood into the Park is prohibited unless approved by a written permit from the RJRD.
SECTION 6. WEAPONS, FIREARMS AND FIREWORKS
​​6.1 Firearms and Weapons: No person shall discharge firearms within the Park property. No person shall carry or discharge slings, bows, rockets, missiles, projectiles, explosives, volatile liquids, or other devices by which persons, animals, or birds may be injured or frightened, and no one shall throw stones or other dangerous missiles, devices and objects on Park property.
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6.2 Fireworks: No person shall possess, use or discharge any type of firework, explosive orincendiary device within the Park without w ritten permit from the RJRD.​​
SECTION 7. CAMPING
7.1 Camps and Temporary Lodging Places: No person shall establish or maintain any tent, camp, or other temporary lodging place in the Park without obtaining a written permit from the RJRD Board Chairperson/
Administrator. Permit/use agreement forms are accessible on the RJRD website or by contacting the RJRD Administrator.​
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7.2 Scout and Educational Camping: Boy Scout/Girl Scout, Indian Guide/Princess Programs and Educational camping is permitted by written permit issued by the RJRD. Permit/use agreement forms are accessible on the RJRD website or by contacting the RJRD Administrator.​​
SECTION 8. PERSONAL CONDUCT
8.1 Disorderly Conduct: No person shall recklessly cause inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm to another within the Park. Prohibited conduct includes the following:
â–ª Fighting, threatening harm to persons or property, violent or annoying behavior, or behavior that may endanger others;
â–ª Making unreasonable noise or using grossly abusive, intimidating or coarse language to any person;
â–ª Insulting, taunting, or challenging another, in a way that is likely to provoke a violent response;
â–ª Panhandling;
â–ª Obstructing any parkway, path, trail or traveled area.
Audio Disturbances: Except with a permit issued by RJRD, no person shall operate or play any audio device in the Park, including radios, televisions, musical instruments, amplifiers, or public address systems that can be heard from a distance of 100 feet away or from outside of the Park, or that makes noise which is unreasonable regardless of distance, considering the location, time of day and impact on other Park users or adjoining residents.
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8.2 Beer and Intoxicating Liquor: No person shall possess, use or offer for sale beer or any other alcoholic beverage within the Park. This section does not apply to alcoholic beverages used, consumed, or possessed on designated premises for which a permit has been issued by the RJRD Board, and provided such use, consumption or possession is in accordance with the specifications and restrictions of such permit and of any permit required from the State of Ohio, Department of Commerce-Division of Liquor Control.
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8.3 Gambling: No person shall solicit or procure participants for, engage in, or promote any game of chance within the Park which is played for money or other thing of value, other than charitable gaming pursuant to a permit issued by RJRD and conducted in accordance with Ohio law.
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8.4 Restroom Facilities: No person shall enter a toilet room set apart for the opposite sex, except on duty RJRD employees or law enforcement or young children accompanied by a supervising adult of the posted sex. No person shall possess or use any audio or video device in any restroom facility.
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8.5 Public Indecency and Solicitation: No person shall appear in the Park in a state of nudity or commit, perform, or engage in lewd, lascivious, obscene, or indecent acts or behavior.
No person shall solicit or attempt to solicit anyone to engage in a sexual act or any lewd, lascivious or indecent act or behavior.
No person shall loiter in or about restroom/toilet facilities, buildings, or around vehicles within the Park.
No person shall bring into the Park, display, or leave behind, any photograph, publication, or apparatus of lewd, lascivious, obscene, indecent or pornographic nature.​​
SECTION 9. VEHICULAR TRAFFIC
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9.1 Speed: Within the Park no person shall drive or propel, or cause to be driven or propelled, any vehicle at a rate of speed exceeding ten (10) miles per hour.
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9.2 Reckless Operation of Vehicles: No person shall operate any vehicle within the Park in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property, including, but not limited to, pealing out or squealing of tires.
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9.3 Commercial/Overweight Vehicles: No person shall drive, propel, or park, or cause to be driven, propelled, or parked within the Park, any vehicle weighing more than 6,000 pounds, other than school buses and emergency vehicles.
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9.4 Parking Limited to Designated Areas: No person shall park any motor vehicle, bicycle, power driven mobility device or other vehicle within the Park except in designated areas.
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9.5 Trailer Parking: No person shall park any trailer within the Park without a written RJRD permit.
9.6 Parking Hours: No person shall park or leave any motor vehicle, bicycle, wagon, or other vehicle in the Park when it is closed, without a written RJRD permit.
9.7 Travel Limited to Designated Areas: Vehicles including All-Terrain and All-Purpose vehicles (ATVs and APVs) may be driven only on drives, roadways, walks and trails designated for such purpose. Trails established for non-vehicular use (such as pedestrian, bicycle, bridle trails for horse-back riders) shall not be used for vehicular travel.
9.8 Bicycles: No person shall operate a bicycle except on paved roads, or in areas or on trails designated for such purpose, nor shall any person operate a bicycle in a reckless manner so as to endanger the operator or any other person or any property.
9.9 Applicability of Ohio Traffic Laws: All motor vehicles and operators of motor vehicles within the Park shall comply with applicable Ohio law​
SECTION 10. PEDESTRIAN AND OTHER TRAFFIC
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10.1 Pedestrian Travel Limited to Designated Areas: No person shall walk, run, or hike in areas of the Park that are not designated for pedestrian or vehicular traffic. Persons seeking access to off-trail environments for educational, research, or any other purpose must submit a written application for a permit to the RJRD Board Chairperson/Administrator. This Section shall not apply to mowed areas of the Park with grass less than 8 inches in length.
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10.2 Horses: No person shall ride any horse or other animal within the Park, except upon bridle trails established for horseback riders, unless written permission has been granted by the RJRD Board, nor shall any person ride a horse in such a manner as to endanger the rider, horse, or any other person or property. Horseback riders shall yield right-of-way to pedestrians and motorists in the Park where bridle trails intersect with foot trails, roads, drives, and parkways.
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​10.3 Winter Sports: No person shall operate a snowmobile or engage in sledding, ice fishing, skiing, or ice skating in the Park except in designated areas during designated times.​
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10.4 Swimming and Watercraft: No person shall swim, bathe, wade, enter into, or use personally owned watercraft in any Park waters except in areas and at times designated by RJRD. Complete watercraft rules are available on the RJRD website or by contacting the RJRDAdministrator.​
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10.5 Aircraft: No person shall operate or use aircraft or other flying machine on lands or waters within the Park without a written permit from RJRD.
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10.6 Toy Vehicles/Drones: No person shall operate or use any drone, toy or model airplane, rockets, airplanes, gliders, boats, cars or other toy vehicles within the Park that are propelled or drawn by power other than muscular power, without a written permit issued by RJRD.
SECTION 11. ADVERTISING/POSTING SIGNS​
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11.1 No person, group or organization shall expose, distribute or place any sign, advertisement, circular, notice, statement, banner, emblem, or design within or upon any part of the Park without a written permit from the RJRD.
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11.2 A public assembly, parade, picnic, meeting, gathering, exhibition, competition, demonstration, or other organized event of twelve (12) or more persons requires the completion of the RJRD Use Agreement.​
SECTION 12. COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES AND SOLICITATION​
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12.1 Sales: No person shall sell or offer for sale any article, thing, privilege, or service within the Park unless a written permit has been obtained from the RJRD.​​
SECTION 13. PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO AND AUDIO RECORDING
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13.1 Photography and Recording Requiring a Permit: Persons may take still photographs or video or audio recordings within the Park without first obtaining a written permit from the RJRD Board Chairperson/Administrator unless any of the following applies:
â–ª The photographs or recordings are being taken for the purpose of advertising a product or service;
â–ª The project involves professional casts, props, models, or crews, other than in the case of bona fide news media personnel covering a breaking news event that cannot be covered at any other time or at any other location.
SECTION 14. DOGS, CATS AND OTHER ANIMALS​
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14.1 Restricted Areas and Leashes: Except for guide or other dogs used by blind, deaf, or mobility impaired persons, no person shall bring any dog, cat, other domesticated animal, wild animal or any animal destructive to wildlife to any building in the Park.
Dogs and cats are permitted in other areas of the Park if they are controlled at
all times on a leash held in hand and do not unreasonably disturb the use and enjoyment of the Park by other Park visitors. Leashes shall not be longer than eight feet. Dogs shall be muzzled or shortleashed if required by law.
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14.2 Releasing of Animals: No person shall bring any domestic or wild animal into the Park for the purpose of releasing or abandoning said animal, nor shall any person release or abandon any animal within the Park.
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14.3 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.
SECTION 15. HOURS OF OPERATION​
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15.1 Presence in the Park During Restricted Hours Forbidden: No person shall enter, stop, or remain in the Park, except at posted times, unless otherwise authorized by a written permit issued by the RJRD Board Chairperson/ Administrator.
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15.2 Hours of Operation: The RJRD Board Chairperson/Administrator is authorized to maintain a schedule of hours of operation for the Park.
15.3 Public Notice of Temporary Closure of Facilities: Except in emergency situations, whenever specific areas within the Park are temporarily closed, the public shall be notified by sign, map, barrier, or other appropriate notice.
SECTION 16. EMPLOYEE EXEMPTION​
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16.1 Exemption for Park Employees, Trustees, and Representatives: On-duty employees and authorized representatives of Richfield Joint Recreation District, and their vehicles, ATVs and APVs, shall be exempt from the provisions of these Rules and Regulations as necessary to perform their duties and assignments.
Any exemptions for individuals or groups who are not employees or trustees
of Richfield Joint Recreation District must be in writing.
