Green Lake County, WI Article III Park Rules and Regulations

[Adopted 7-17-1990 by Ord. No. 419-90]

§ 187-5 Authority.

This article is adopted in consonance with the provisions of § 27.075, Wis. Stats.

§ 187-6 Title.

This article shall be known as the "Green Lake County Parks and Recreational Areas Ordinance."

§ 187-7 Jurisdiction.

This article shall regulate all County-owned and operated parks and recreational areas, to include public landings and accesses.

§ 187-8 Regulations established.

A. Park hours for swimming at Margaret Dodge Memorial Park and Spring Lake Park in the Town of Kingston shall be from sunrise to 9:00 p.m. daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. All swimming is at the individual's own risk.

[Amended 12-21-2004 by Ord. No. 822-04]

B. Any group or organization using park facilities is required to have adult supervision in charge of the group while on park premises.

C. Park hours in all County-operated parks shall be from sunrise to 9:00 p.m. daily. Requests for variation from these hours shall be made in writing to the County Clerk at least 10 days prior to the intended date of use.

D. The public is requested at all times to keep all park and other recreational areas clean and sanitary.

E. No privately owned equipment for recreation facilities shall be stored in park buildings.

F. No intoxicating beverages, except for beer or ale in metal containers no larger than 16 ounces, is allowed on park or recreational area grounds at any time. Use of larger beer or ale containers will need to be approved in advance by obtaining a permit from the office of the County Clerk.

[Amended 8-18-1998 by Ord. No. 671-98]

G. No profane language is allowed on park or recreational area grounds.

H. All ice fishing shanties shall be removed from County park property by April 1 of each calendar year.

[Added 6-20-2000 by Ord. No. 700-00]

I. No excessive noise or amplified music is allowed on park or recreational area grounds. Musical instruments and/or bands may not be played without prior approval by the Parks Commission or its designee.

[Amended 12-21-2004 by Ord. No. 822-04; 4-17-2018 by Ord. No. 15-2018]

J. No pets are allowed in Green Lake County parks from Memorial Day to Labor Day. At all other times the pets shall be leashed or under the control by the owner of the pet. Exception is provided for a guide dog, signal dog, or other animal that is individually trained to accompany persons with disabilities and law enforcement K-9 animals.

[Amended 2-20-2001 by Ord. No. 716-01; 9-15-2015 by Ord. No. 1120-2015]

K. Disc golf will be allowed at Zobel Memorial Park, and fund-raising will be allowed to support the disc golf course.

[Amended 5-20-2008 by Ord. No. 927-08; 6-16-2020 by Ord. No. 7-2020]

L. No camping or house trailers or vehicles are allowed on park or recreational area grounds except in designated parking areas. No overnight parking and/or camping is permitted.

M. Boat loading and unloading operations shall be restricted to those areas developed and designated for the same and should be restricted to 15 minutes or less so that ramps and piers do not become obstructed. Boat trailers shall be parked only in designated areas provided for that purpose.

N. Overnight camping by organized youth groups, e.g., Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Campfire Girls, etc., may be authorized only at Zobel Memorial Park upon written application to the County Clerk's office at least 10 days in advance stating the name of the group, the number of campers, the responsible adults (at least two required to be present at all times) and the date(s) requested.

O. All persons using County parks and recreational areas are expected to use the rest room facilities provided at each such location for their intended purpose.

P. No person shall bring in or dump, deposit or leave any bottles, broken glass, ashes, paper, boxes, cans, dirt, rubbish, waste, garbage or refuse or their trash. No refuse or trash shall be placed in any waters in or contiguous to any park or left anywhere on the grounds. All rubbish or waste shall be carried away from the park by the person responsible for its presence and properly disposed of elsewhere.

[Amended 5-20-2008 by Ord. No. 927-08]

Q. No person shall in any manner display or cause to be displayed any sign, placard, picture or other depiction concerning any political candidate or proposal, any commercial display, showing or event, or any religious activity in any Green Lake County park or recreational area.

§ 187-8.1 Hunting and trapping.

[Added 9-15-2015 by Ord. No. 1120-2015]

A. Hunting prohibited in County parks.

(1) Hunting or causing the discharge from any firearm, slingshot, bow and arrow, crossbow, air rifle or any other weapon within, from, into or across the boundaries of Green Lake County parks shall be prohibited at all times.

(2) Green Lake County's parks are Zobel Park, Margaret Dodge Memorial Park, Sunset Park, Spring Lake Park (Town of Green Lake), Kingston Spring Lake Park, Twin Lakes Park and Lake Maria Park.

(3) Constructing any shed, hunting stand, blind or other private structure within, on or over any park is prohibited.

B. Hunting on County-owned lands.

(1) Hunting is permitted on County-owned lands that are not parks in accordance with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources regulations.

(2) A hunting stand, blind or other private structure within, on or over any park must conform with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources regulations.

C. Trapping or laying of traps within all County-owned lands, including County parks, is prohibited at all times.

D. In all Green Lake County Parks, no person other than a duly authorized law enforcement officer shall fire or discharge any firearm or air rifle within the parks. Neither shall any person, except as allowed through a properly issued valid concealed carry permit, have in his or her possession or control of any firearm or air rifle within the confines of the County parks, unless it is unloaded and knocked down, or unloaded and enclosed within a carrying case or other suitable container, nor shall any person have in his or her possession or control a bow or crossbow within the confines of the County parks, unless that bow does not have an arrow nocked or the crossbow is not cocked or is unloaded and enclosed in a carrying case.

E. The prohibitions contained in this section do not apply to County employees or agents engaging in live trapping to benefit the County by removing nuisance animals in the County parks. Further, the hunting prohibitions of this section do not apply to those licensed persons engaged in falconry as defined and regulated in Ch. NR 18, Wis. Adm. Code.

§ 187-8.2 Fundraising in County parks.

[Added 6-16-2020 by Ord. No. 7-2020]

A. Definitions

FUNDRAISE/FUNDRAISING

To collect money or engage in the organized activity of raising funds for a nonprofit or by selling merchandise or accepting donations.

NON-PROFIT

Any organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax exempt organization under Section 501 (a) and (c) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a group organized for purposes other than generating profit and in which no part of the organization's income is distributed to its members, directors, or officers.

MERCHANDISE

Goods to be sold, including but not limited to food and beverages.

B. Sale of merchandise/fundraising.

(1) Sale of merchandise is only allowed for the following:

(a) The concessionaire at Margaret Dodge Memorial Park.

(2) Fundraising is only allowed for the following:

(a) Nonprofit entities; and

(b) Support of the disc golf course at Zobel Memorial Park.

§ 187-9 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 5-17-2011 by Ord. No. 993-2011[1]; 9-15-2015 by Ord. No. 1120-2015]

A. Any person who violates regulations set forth in §§ 187-8 and 187-8.1 may also be required, upon conviction for a first offense, to forfeit not less than $5 nor more than $250 plus the costs of prosecution of the action; and upon conviction of second and subsequent offenses, to forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $500 plus the costs of prosecution of the action.

B. A person in default of payment of forfeiture and costs of prosecution shall be imprisoned in the County jail until payment in full but not to exceed 30 days.

C. Any person damaging County property may also be ordered to pay restitution.

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided for the redesignation of former § 187-9, Regulations established, as § 187-8.

§ 187-10 Enforcement.

[Amended 5-17-2011 by Ord. No. 993-2011]

A. The Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office shall enforce the provisions herein.

B. The Sheriff's Office shall have the authority to issue citations for violations of the regulations set forth in §§ 187-8 and 187-8.1. Furthermore, the Green Lake County Corporation Counsel or District Attorney are authorized to prosecute violations of this article.

[Amended 9-15-2015 by Ord. No. 1120-2015]

C. A Green Lake County Sheriff's Office deputy, after issuing a citation for illegal parking of an unattended vehicle in violation of this chapter, is authorized to remove or cause to be removed such vehicle to a position or location where parking is permitted or to the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office storage area, whichever the officer deems appropriate.[1]

[1] Editor’s Note: Former Subsection D, regarding enforcement of violations of § 187-8G, I and K, and which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 9-15-2015 by Ord. No. 1120-2015.