Stockton Municipal Code
Chapter 5
PUBLIC WELFARE, MORALS AND POLICY

Part III
Division 2
USE OF PUBLIC PARKS

SEC. 5-022. UNLAWFUL ACTS IN PUBLIC PARKS:
Within the limits of any park of the City of Stockton and within the limits of any park, now owned or to be hereafter owned by the City of Stockton outside the limits of the City of Stockton, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to do any of the acts hereinafter specified, and the community service officers and police trainees are hereby empowered to arrest a person whenever the community service officers and police trainees have reasonable cause to believe the person to be arrested has committed in his or her presence the acts hereinafter specified, to wit:
(a) To cut, break, injure, deface, or disturb any plant, rock, building, cage, pen, monument, fence, bench, or other structure, apparatus, or property; or to pluck, pull up, cut, take or remove any shrub, bush, plant or flower; or to mark or write upon any building, monument, fence, bench, or other structure; or to carry any flowers, shrubs, or branches into or through the park.
(b) To cut or remove any wood, turf, grass, soil, rock, sand or gravel.
(c) To post, place or erect any bill, notice, paper, or advertising device or matter of any kind.
(d) To sell or offer for sale any merchandise, article or thing whatsoever, or to conduct any class, special event, or tournament whether or not for profit, without a Special Event Permit. Such permit shall be carried by the vendor, or the party conducting such class, event or tournament at all times that such party is within a City park for the purpose of such sale or activity.
(e) To willfully tamper with, or damage any water or gas pipe, hydrant, stopcock, sewer, basin, or other construction in any park.
(f) To carry or discharge any firearm, air gun or slingshot.
(g) To make or kindle a fire except in picnic stoves provided for that purpose, or to camp, except in places designated as such by the City Manager.
(h) To ride or drive any horse or other animal or any motorized vehicle, cycle, or scooter elsewhere than on the roads or drives provided for such purpose, or to drive a motor vehicle in an erratic or hazardous manner on any park roads, paths or parking areas.
(i) To indulge in riotous, threatening, or indecent conduct, or abusive, threatening, profane, or indecent language.
(j) To enter, remain, stay or loiter in the swimming pools in the public parks or the enclosures surrounding said pools at any time when said pools are not open to the public, with a lifeguard on duty.
(k) To retrieve and abscond with balls hit, thrown or rolled over, under or through the fences or stands enclosing an athletic area.
(l) To play or engage in model airplane flying, radio controlled or non-radio controlled model powerboat operation or the use of any other power driven or noise producing hobby or recreational device, driving of golf balls, archery, hardball or any similar games of a hazardous nature, except at such places and times as shall be specifically established by the Director of Parks and Recreation.
(m) To throw or place on or in any park any paper, rubbish, garbage, or refuse matter of any kind.
(n) To enter, remain, stay or loiter on the playing area, roughs and lagoons of any golf course or golf driving range without first having purchased a valid admission ticket to such course or range having been authorized by the person in charge to enter such course or range.
(o) To enter, remain, stay or loiter on any portion of any golf driving range other than a designated tee area.
(p) To possess any beverage container made of glass in any City park or playground or to bring, carry, or transport any beverage container made of glass into any City park or playground.

(Amended by Ordinance 036-94C.S. — Effective January 18, 1995) (Amended by Ordinance 009-94C.S. — Effective May 22, 1994) (Amended by Ordinance 3715 C.S. — Effective January 12, 1984) (Amended by Ordinance 007-07C.S.- Effective April 19, 2007)

SEC. 5-022.1. CITY MANAGER AUTHORIZED TO DESIGNATE CERTAIN PARKS:
(Repealed by Ordinance 010-01 C.S. – Effective May 17, 2001) (Amended by Ordinance 3213C.S. — Effective Aug. 2, 1979)

SEC. 5-022.2. UNLAWFUL TO ENTER, REMAIN OR LOITER IN POSTED DESIGNATED PARKS DURING CERTAIN HOURS:
It shall be unlawful for any person to enter, remain, or loiter within the limits of any park now owned or to be hereafter owned by the City of Stockton, either inside or outside the limits of the City of Stockton between one hour after sundown and one hour before sunrise the next day. This Section shall not apply unless the park has been posted as provided in Section 5-022.3.
The time provisions hereof shall not apply to those places in each park designated as lighted recreation areas, such as tennis courts and ball fields. However, in no event shall a person remain in any lighted recreation area in such park after 10:00 p.m. nor enter such park before 6:00 a.m. unless permission is received from the Department of Parks and Recreation.
(Amended by Ordinance 010-01 C.S. – Effective May 17, 2001) (Amended by Ordinance 3099C.S. — Effective Sept. 7, 1978)

SEC. 5-022.3. METHOD OF POSTING DESIGNATED PARKS:
Each park which has been designated by the City Manager pursuant to Section 5-022.1 shall be posted with signs not less than one (1) square foot in area and upon which, in lettering not less than one-half (1/2) inch in height, appear the words "ENTERING OR REMAINING IN THIS PARK BETWEEN 10:00 P.M. AND 6:00 A.M. FORBIDDEN BY LAW. SMC 5-022.2."
(Amended by Ordinance 3099C.S. — Effective Sept. 7, 1978)

SEC. 5-022.4. EXEMPTION — PEACE OFFICERS, ETC:
The provisions hereof shall not apply to the entry upon park property in the course of duty of any peace officer or other duly authorized public employee.
(Added by Ordinance 1724C.S. — Effective Sept. 12, 1968)

SEC. 5-022.5. UNLAWFUL TO TEAR DOWN, DEFACE OR DESTROY SIGNS:
It shall be unlawful for any person without authority to tear down, deface or destroy any sign posted pursuant to this Division.
(Added by Ordinance 1724C.S. — Effective Sept. 12, 1968)