Park Use Rules

On-Site Problems

During business days, contact Parks Staff from 8 am to 3:30 pm at 541-450-6060.

During weekends, holidays, and evening hours please contact the Grants Pass Public Safety Non-emergency line at 541-450-6260. For emergencies call 911.

Rules

Interference with City Park Employees, GPMC 5.57.080

1. No person shall interfere, obstruct, or harass, or attempt to interfere, obstruct, or harass, by means of physical force or otherwise, any City park employees discharging or apparently discharging their duties as a City employee. 

Alcohol is prohibited in all city parks unless an alcohol permit has been authorized as part of an approved event. At these events, alcohol may only be consumed in the designated areas. 

Animal Regulations

1. No person shall relocate, dump, or release animals, fish, birds, insects, or any other animal into any City park or onto public property. GPMC 5.57.160
2. No person shall in any manner pursue, kill, injure, hunt, or molest any bird or wild animal within any City park or on public property. GPMC 5.57.170
3. No person shall allow domestic pets under their care to pursue, kill, injure, hunt, or molest any bird or wild animal within any City park or on public property. GPMC 5.57.170
4. It is unlawful for the owner, possessor, or keeper of any animal to permit such animal to roam at large in any City park or on public property, and, if such animal is found in any City park or public place, it may be impounded. GPMC 5.57.180
5. No person with a dog or other domestic pet or animal under their care shall permit the animal's solid waste to remain upon the lawns in any City park or on public property. GPMC 5.57.190.

Amplified sound requires advance approval through a permit to minimize impact to other park users and nearby residents.  

Commercial activities are prohibited in city parks without written agreement with the City Manager and/or their designee. Commercial activities include, but are not limited to, retail sales, the sale of food and drinks.

Drug possession and/or drug use, including the use of marijuana, is strictly prohibited in all City parks. Violators are subject to immediate removal. GPMC 5.57.140

Drug paraphernalia possession and/or use is strictly prohibited in all City parks. Violators are subject to immediate removal. GPMC 5.57.150 

Dumping Refuse or Debris in Parks or Public Spaces; GPMC 5.57.050

1. No person shall scatter refuse, debris, or waste, or to place or leave upon the lawns or elsewhere in such parks any materials which tend to damage the plant growth therein or that detracts from the natural beauty of such City parks or public property.
2. No person shall construct, place, or maintain any kind of road, trail, permanent structure, signs, markers, fences, permanent enclosures, or other improvements in any City park or on public property unless otherwise approved by the City.

Electrical and potable water connections found in various locations and shelters are not authorized to be used unless reserved through Grants Pass Parks & Recreation.

Fireworks, GPMC 5.57.210

1. The use and discharge of fireworks is prohibited in all City parks at all times except as authorized by City Council for special events.

Grease No grease is to be dumped into sinks, toilets, storm drains or on the ground. Grease may be placed in sealed containers and disposed of in the trash.

Open City Park Space, per municipal code 6.46.040, utilization of such space is as follows:

1. All individuals utilizing open City park space shall be limited to a spatial footprint of eight feet by eight feet, or 64 square feet. All materials and personal effects must be contained within that 64 square foot footprint. 

2. There shall be a buffer of at least six feet between each spatial footprint described in Subsection A.

3. Subsections A and B shall not apply to individuals utilizing covered gazebos for group gatherings on a drop-in or reservation basis, or to individuals utilizing open City park space for active recreation.

Open Flames, per municipal code 5.57.200, are as follows:

1. It is unlawful for any person to build and/or maintain any fire within any City park except in a stove pit or fireplace designated by the City for such purpose. 

2. Notwithstanding Subsection A, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess or utilize within any City park any propane tanks, kerosene tanks, gasoline, lighter fluid, or any other flammable materials in any form to kindle or maintain any open flame. 

3. No fire created under this Section shall be left unattended and every fire shall be extinguished before its user leaves the park area.

4. Burnt coals, wood, or any other materials suggesting that an open flame was maintained shall be considered prima facie evidence of a violation of this Section.

5. Notwithstanding Subsections A and B, portable propane camp stoves and propane barbecues may be used within a City park during regular park hours within established picnic areas only. 

**Note** picnic areas include covered shelters and picnic tables.

Park hours vary depending on the season and daylight. The parks are closed when it is dark except for areas that have field and court lights. Field and court lights must be off by 10:30 p.m. Restrooms in all parks are locked between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. 

**Note** Pursuant to a U.S. District Court Judgment and Injunction issued by Judge Mark D. Clarke, sleeping and resting in City parks is permitted from 9:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. during the months of April through September, and from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. during the months of October to March in all City parks with the exception of Reinhart Volunteer Park. 

Portable Structures; Buffers from Park Amenities, per municipal code 6.46.041, are as follows:

1. “Portable Structure” means any temporary structure including enclosures that are covered with fabric or another type of membrane, which are of flexible or of rigid construction, and/or serve as a shelter or barricade and includes canopies and air-supported, air-inflated, tensioned membrane structures or similar structures of rigid construction, temporary fencing, and barricades, as well as conventional tents, sheds, shelters, trailers, lean-tos, shacks, tarps, or yurts. 
2. No person may erect a portable structure at any City park within the following buffers: 
1. 20 feet from the outermost exterior of: 
   1. A baseball or softball field;
   2. A soccer field;
   3. A basketball court, whether fenced or not; 
   4. A tennis or pickleball court, whether fenced or not;
   5. A covered shelter or gazebo;
   6. A restroom or porta potty;
   7. A building or dwelling on City park property;
   8. The outermost property line of a residential property directly adjacent to any City park; and
   9. The outermost exterior of all paved or unpaved walking paths and/or trails in any City park.
2. 50 feet from the outermost exterior of:

1. A stream, river, creek, lake, pond, or any other waterway.
2. A spray park or splash pad; and
3. A playground or play structure.

     3.  No portable structures may be erected at Riverside Park east of 6^th Street, or
          in any area under the Caveman Bridge at any time.

In order to address student safety concerns associated with campsites at Gilbert Creek Park and Fruitdale Park, the following rule changes were made, effective August 28, 2023:  

During the academic school year, from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on weekdays, no portable structure, as defined in GPMC 6.46.041, may be erected within 50 feet of the outermost exterior of any walking path or trail, whether paved or unpaved, running through Gilbert Creek Park and/or Fruitdale Park, that leads to any Grants Pass District 7 or Three Rivers School District property.

 The resting hours outlined in the Injunction signed by Judge Mark D. Clarke shall not be affected.

Public Urination and Defecation. GPMC 5.57.100

1. No person shall urinate or defecate in public view or in a public place other than a permanent or temporary restroom facility.

Tables If you move tables to an area, please return them to the original location.

Trees GPMC 10.01.800

Trees on Public and Semi-Public Lands are protected from Wanton, Malicious, and Negligent Harm.  It is unlawful to break, injure, mutilate, burn, kill, remove, or destroy any tree or shrub in a City Park. This includes attaching any wire, rope, cable, poster, sign, nail, or other fastener to a tree or shrub which can result in harm. 

Vehicles are allowed only in designated, paved parking areas during hours the parks are open. Vehicles left overnight in parks are subject to towing. During events, if any vehicle in your party is driven off roadways without specific written permission, your full damage deposit will automatically be forfeited, and you may be liable for additional fines and costs. Special care around trees must be taken during events where vehicles are allowed outside of paved parking areas. To protect tree root systems, vehicles may not be driven or parked under tree canopies (or otherwise marked areas around trees)

Water Pollution, GPMC 5.57.070

1. No person shall bathe in any stream, lake, river, pool, pond, creek, or any other waterway, nor may any person wash clothing or any other material, or in any way pollute any stream, lake, river, pool, pond, creek, or any other waterway within a City park or on public property.

2. Violation of Subsection A shall be a violation pursuant to GPMC 1.36.010(J).