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52

CHAPTER 7 - PUBLIC PARKS AND TRAILS

Part of the City Code of Riverdale, UT.

Local law · Updated June 10, 2026 · 1,041 sections

The text

7-7-1: - DEFINITIONS:#

DEPARTMENT: The Riverdale City department of public works.

MOTOR VEHICLE: Every vehicle which is self-propelled, except vehicles moved solely by human power and motorized wheelchairs.

PARK: Any and all lands, buildings, reserves, sports complexes, trails and other special places, including the Riverdale Trail, that are owned, operated or maintained by Riverdale City, and are delineated generally in the Riverdale City parks map, and/or specifically in the inventory of park properties at the office of the city recorder.

PATHWAY: Any constructed trail which has been designated for the use of pedestrians, bicyclists, and other wheeled activities moved solely by human power.

PEDESTRIAN: Any person afoot and any person operating a wheelchair or motorized wheelchair.

TRAIL: Any improved pathway within the city of Riverdale available for use by the public on public or private property.

(Ord. 783, 3-15-2011)

7-7-2: - PROHIBITED ACTS RELATING TO PARK PROPERTY:#

Park limitations, access, encroachments, construction, use and easements: A.

Purpose and Objectives:

1.

The department is responsible for the stewardship of all Riverdale City parks and trail properties, and thus any encroachments upon them. The department shall regulate all nonpark related construction activity on or across park property and provide conditions to assure preservation of the public's interest and proper restoration of the parks. Riverdale City projects shall be subject to internal policies and are specifically exempt from the provisions of this chapter.

B.

Prohibitions: No person in any park or trail shall:

1.

Use any park or trail property for access to adjoining or nearby property for any purpose, or to construct or install any facility or improvement upon, over or beneath park or city property except by license or easement issued or granted pursuant to the provisions of this code or by permission from the Riverdale City council.

2.

Wilfully mark, deface, disfigure, injure, tamper with, displace or remove, any building, bridges, tables, benches, fireplaces, railings, paving or paving material, water lines or other public utilities or parts or appurtenances whatsoever, either real or personal property, or have in his possession any of the foregoing things or objects, or any part thereof.

3.

Fail to cooperate in maintaining restrooms and washrooms in a neat and sanitary condition. No person over the age of five (5) years shall use the restrooms and washrooms designated for the opposite sex.

4.

Construct or erect any building, inflatable or structure of whatever kind, whether permanent or temporary in character, or run or string any public service utility into, upon or across such lands, except by written permit issued pursuant to this chapter.

5.

Climb upon or go inside security fences, maintenance service areas, or other permanent or temporary restricted areas.

6.

Damage, cut, carve, transplant or remove any tree or plant or injure the bark, or pick the flowers or seeds, of any tree or plant. Nor shall any person attach any rope, wire or other contrivance to any tree or plant located in any park except as may be authorized by the public works director by duly promulgated rule or regulation. A person shall not dig in or otherwise disturb grass areas, drive stakes of any kind into the ground or climb trees, or in any other way injure or impair the natural beauty or usefulness of any area, except that retrieval of personal property unintentionally lodged in a tree or other plant shall be permitted, provided that such removal is achieved safely and without damage to any tree or plant.

7.

Hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, chase, tease, annoy, shoot or throw missiles at any animal, reptile or bird located within or upon any city park or property unless otherwise permitted by duly authorized Riverdale personnel or as necessitated as part of a city work responsibility or authorized under this chapter or other ordinances; nor shall they remove or have in their possession the young of any wild animal, or the eggs or nest, or young of any reptile or bird; nor shall they collect, remove, have in his possession, give away, sell or offer to sell, buy or offer to buy, or accept as a gift, any specimen alive or dead collected from any park areas. This section does not apply to fish lawfully taken from the Weber River.

8.

Feeding of animals within park areas is prohibited unless otherwise permitted by duly authorized Riverdale personnel.

9.

Horseback riding is illegal, except for police officers and their service animals in the official performance of their duties or with a special event written permit from the city, to ride a horse in park areas or upon city property. Where permitted, horses shall be thoroughly broken and properly restrained, and ridden with due care, and shall not be allowed to graze or go unattended.

10.

No horses or other animals, except dogs and cats, shall be allowed unless otherwise permitted by duly authorized Riverdale personnel.

(Ord. 843, 8-20-2013)

7-7-3: - TRAFFIC:#

A.

Restrictions: No person in any park shall:

1.

Fail to obey all police officers, city or park employees, and other such persons authorized and instructed to direct traffic whenever and wherever needed in the parks.

2.

Fail to observe all traffic signs or markings indicating speed, direction, caution, stopping or parking, and all others posted for proper control of traffic and to safeguard life and property.

3.

Ride or drive a vehicle at an excessive or dangerous rate of speed except upon such roads designated, by posted signs, for faster travel.

4.

Drive any vehicle on any area except the paved official park roads or parking areas, or such other areas as may on occasion be specifically designated as temporary parking areas. The paved trail is not a recognized road under this section. This section does not apply to city personnel in their authorized capacity as city employees.

5.

Park a vehicle in other than an established or designated parking area, and such use shall be in accordance with the posted directions and with the instructions of any police officers or duly authorized representatives of the city who may be present.

6.

Be allowed to use more than one marked parking space.

7.

Leave a vehicle standing or parked after closing hours of the park, except by permit in designated areas.

8.

Park a vehicle on grass or turf, except by permit or permission and only in designated areas.

B.

Restricted Vehicles: No motor vehicles shall be permitted on any grass, sidewalk or pathway of any park or river trail system except:

1.

Vehicles operated by law enforcement or department personnel;

2.

Emergency vehicles operated for purposes of transporting humans in need of emergency services;

3.

Vehicles authorized or permitted by the department.

(Ord. 783, 3-15-2011)

7-7-4: - RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES:#

A.

Boating, Swimming or Wading: No person in any park shall bathe in any water or waterways except in such water and at such places as are provided therefor and in compliance with such rules and regulations promulgated and posted by the city.

B.

Hunting, Firearms and Projectiles:

1.

Use Prohibited: No person in any park or river trail system shall:

a.

Use firearms of any description including, but not limited to, air rifles, spring guns, bows and arrows, rockets, slings, paint guns, or any other forms of weapons potentially harmful to wildlife or dangerous to human safety.

b.

Use any instrument that can be loaded with and fire blank cartridges, except as provided in subsection 7-7-2B7 of this chapter.

c.

Use any kind of trapping device. Live traps may be used by animal control or other duly authorized representatives of the city.

d.

Discharge, or have in his possession, any fireworks, except as provided in subsection 7-7-2B7 of this chapter.

e.

Discharge or shoot firearms of any description as defined in subsection B1a of this section, into any park from beyond park boundaries.

2.

Exceptions:

a.

It shall be lawful for police officers or other duly authorized officers to use and carry firearms while on duty;

b.

The provisions prohibiting the discharge of arrows shall not apply to a city sponsored archery class;

c.

A special use event may be located and used in such portions of a park or trail system designated by the city, and subject to rules and regulations promulgated and posted by the city for that event.

C.

Picnic and Park Areas and Use: No person in any park shall:

1.

Fail or refuse to comply with directions given by police officers or duly authorized representatives of the city in regulating the activities in any area when necessary to prevent congestion and to secure the maximum use for the comfort and convenience of all.

2.

Violate the regulation that use of the individual fireplaces, tables and benches follows generally the rules of "first come, first served" unless specifically reserved through the city offices.

3.

Use any portion of the picnic areas or of any building or structure within the park system for the purpose of holding events to the exclusion of other persons, nor shall any person use such area and facilities for an unreasonable time if the facilities are crowded; provided, however, reservations in advance may be made for any park facility where diamonds, courts, halls, rooms, gyms, gardens, picnic shelters or fireplaces are provided. All persons requesting advance reservation shall pay a fee as provided by the city and shall observe all park rules and regulations. Failure to observe such rules and regulations shall, in addition to other applicable penalties, result in the immediate termination of the advance reservation.

4.

Conduct, sponsor, promote or publicly advertise any meeting, concert, theater, athletic event or other public activity in park facilities or any activities which include amplified sound, use of equipment or apparatus, sales, closing parkways, fundraising, field marking paint, or interference with the normal and regular use or maintenance of the park without obtaining a special event permit.

5.

Move reserved tables without consulting a duly authorized representative of the city.

6.

Violate the duty to leave all halls, rooms, gyms and other building and park facilities reserved for use in a condition identical to that when those facilities were permitted to the reservation holder for use. All trash in the nature of boxes, papers, cans, bottles, garbage and other refuse is placed in disposal receptacles where provided. If no such trash receptacles are available or are full, then refuse and trash shall be carried away from the park area to be properly disposed of elsewhere.

D.

Camping: No person in any park or trail system shall set up tents, shacks, or any other temporary shelter for the purpose of camping, except by special permission by the city administrator or public works director, nor shall any person leave in a park after closing hours any movable structure or special vehicle to be used, or that could be used, for such purpose such as a motor home, camp trailer, or the like.

E.

Fires: No person in any park or trail system shall light, build, or maintain a fire in any public park, except for culinary purposes in park grills, fireplaces, or privately owned grills, and no person shall leave the immediate area without first extinguishing such fire.

F.

Games: No person in any park or trail system shall take part in or abet the playing of any games involving thrown or otherwise propelled dangerous objects such as stones, arrows or javelins except in areas set apart for such forms of recreation. Golfing or driving golf balls is prohibited.

G.

Tennis Courts:

1.

No person in any park shall fail to observe and/or violate the rules of the use of such courts as promulgated by the city.

2.

No person shall ride or operate a skateboard, roller skates, scooter, in-line skates, bicycle or other wheeled recreation equipment on the tennis courts.

H.

Hot Air Balloons: No person in any park shall tether or launch a hot air balloon except by permit issued pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the city.

I.

Metal Detectors: No person in any park or trail system shall cause any damage to city property while operating a metal detector.

J.

Vehicles: No vehicle shall be permitted in or upon any park or trail system except: 1) those vehicles authorized by the city and operated and used for pleasure and designed to carry passengers, 2) those vehicles employed by the city, and 3) those vehicles making deliveries within a park.

K.

Wheeled Devices:

1.

No person in any park or trail system shall ride or operate a skateboard, roller skates, scooter, in-line skates, bicycle or other wheeled recreation equipment on any brickwork, ornamental surface, picnic table, bench, tennis court, fountain area, wading pool, planter, sculpture or other structure unless otherwise designated as an area where wheeled devices are permitted.

2.

No person in any park or trail system shall ride or operate a skateboard, roller skates, scooter, in-line skates, bicycle, or other wheeled recreation equipment without regard to the safety of others.

(Ord. 843, 8-20-2013; Ord. 872, 11-17-2015)

7-7-5: - BEHAVIOR:#

A.

Alcohol:

1.

Persons may not possess beer, wine or any alcoholic beverage within a Riverdale City park, trail system or facility.

2.

Within Riverdale City parks, trail system and facilities, it shall be unlawful to possess or consume any alcoholic beverage upon any street, parking lot, restroom, pathway, playground, community center, senior center, neighborhood center, skatepark, horseshoe range, BMX facility or youth sports complex, on the greenbelt or trail and entrances thereto under the jurisdiction or control of the city, including the area within two hundred fifty feet (250') of the bank of the Weber River and those areas closed to possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by order of the city.

B.

Smoking: Smoking, including electronic cigarettes, is prohibited within a Riverdale City park, trail system or facility.

C.

Safety and Health: No person shall endanger the safety or health of any other person by any conduct or act. Examples include, but are not limited to, skydiving, hang gliding, helicopter landing, bungee jumping, operating trains or cart kite flying.

D.

Rules and Regulations: No person shall violate any rules and regulations for the use of a park, trail system or any of its facilities or programs, promulgated by the city.

E.

Sound: No person shall operate or aid in the operation of private radios, stereophonic or sound amplification devices at a greater operating level than eighty six (86) decibels measured at a distance of twenty-five feet (25') from such radios or devices or exceed a noise level of sixty two (62) decibels on any residential property except by permit in designated areas or as defined and enforced under the city's nuisance ordinance or permit policy.

F.

Park Closure: No person shall enter or remain in the park or trail system during hours of closure, except as authorized by permit.

G.

Glass Containers: No person shall use, carry, or be in the possession of any container made of glass.

H.

Unlawful Conduct: No person shall engage in any unlawful conduct or criminal activity or in any way commit a violation or breach of the peace, as defined by Utah code and/or this code.

(Ord. 843, 8-20-2013)

7-7-6: - DOGS:#

A.

No person owning or having the care, custody, possession, or control of a dog shall permit or allow such dog to enter or remain in any park or trail system except:

1.

Where such dog is controlled by a leash:

a.

Leash Length: Leash length shall not exceed eight feet (8') within two hundred fifty feet (250') of the greenbelt or trail.

b.

Retractable Leash: Retractable leash mechanisms are allowed so long as their use is in compliance with the requirements of this section.

c.

Riverdale Park: Leashed dogs shall be allowed on the asphalt trail only.

2.

Where such dog is confined in a motor vehicle.

B.

No person owning or having the care, custody, possession, or control of a dog shall:

1.

Fail to have in his/her possession the equipment necessary to remove his/her dog's fecal matter when accompanied by said dog in any park or trail; or

2.

Fail to remove the fecal matter deposited by his/her dog in any park or trail before the owner leaves the immediate area where the fecal matter was deposited.

C.

Unless otherwise listed under another state or city code section, a violation of this section shall be an infraction, the penalty for which shall be forty-five dollars ($45.00) excluding court costs and fees. An infraction is a civil public offense, not constituting a crime, which is punishable only by a penalty not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) and for which no period of incarceration may be imposed. There is no right to trial by jury of a citation or complaint for an infraction and such trials shall be held before the court without a jury.

(Ord. 843, 8-20-2013)

7-7-7: - MERCHANDISING AND SIGN REGULATIONS:#

No person in any park or trail system shall: A.

Expose or offer for sale any article or thing, nor shall he station or place any stand, cart or vehicle for the transportation, sale or display of any such article or thing, except when operating as a licensed concessionaire acting by and under the authority and regulation of the city.

B.

Paste, glue, tack or otherwise post any signs, plaques, advertisement or inscription whatever, except plaques, tablets or signs, of a size, design and location approved by the city, recognizing or acknowledging donations or contributions to any city park or to public facilities therein.

(Ord. 783, 3-15-2011)

7-7-8: - PARK AND TRAIL SYSTEM OPERATING POLICY:#

A.

Hours of Operation: Parks and trail systems shall be open to the public every day of the year from five o'clock (5:00) A.M. to ten o'clock (10:00) P.M. Visitors and vehicles shall be excluded during the hours of closure except when authorized by permit, or where hours are otherwise posted. The mayor shall have the authority to change the hours of any park by proclamation and the publication of that proclamation in the official newspaper of Riverdale City.

B.

Closed Areas: Any section or part of any park or trail system may be declared closed to the public by the city administrator, police, fire or public works director at any time and for any interval of time, either temporarily or at regularly and stated intervals (daily or otherwise) and either entirely or merely to certain uses, as the administrator or director shall find reasonably necessary.

C.

Effect of a Permit: Permittees shall be bound by all park rules and regulations and all applicable ordinances as fully as though the same were explicitly stated in said permit. The person or persons to whom a permit is issued shall be liable for any loss, damage or injuries sustained by any person or property by reason of the negligence of the person or persons to whom such permit shall have been issued. The city administrator, or a duly authorized representative, shall have the authority to revoke a permit upon a finding of violation of any rule or ordinance, or upon good cause.

(Ord. 843, 8-20-2013)

7-7-9: - ENFORCEMENT:#

A.

Officials: Except where otherwise provided herein, police officers, the city administrator, and other duly authorized representatives of the city shall enforce the provisions of this chapter. Animal control officers duly employed or appointed by Riverdale City's animal control also shall be allowed to enforce the provisions of any code or policy sections involving dogs or animals in city parks, trails or property.

B.

Ejectment: A police officer, the city administrator, public works director or a duly authorized representative, shall have the authority to eject from the park any person acting in violation of this chapter. Any person ejected from the park shall leave promptly and peaceably and shall not return to the park for any reason on the same calendar day of his ejectment.

C.

Seizure of Property: A police officer shall have the authority to seize and confiscate any property, thing or device in the park, or used in violation of this chapter.

D.

Removal of Vehicles: Any vehicle parked in violation of this chapter is subject to removal.

(Ord. 783, 3-15-2011)

7-7-10: - APPLICATION:#

This chapter shall not apply to: A.

Police officers and their service animals during the official performance of their duties;

B.

Handlers of search and rescue animals during the official performance of their duties;

C.

Public works or other city employees during the official performance of their duties; or

D.

Persons with disabilities utilizing assistance animals.

(Ord. 783, 3-15-2011)

7-7-11: - PENALTIES:#

A person violating any of the provisions of this chapter for which a fixed penalty has not been designated shall be deemed guilty of a class B misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof can be fined in an amount not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or be imprisoned for a period not exceeding six (6) months, or be both so fined and imprisoned. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as to limit city employees or other authorized persons from performing their official or city authorized duties.

(Ord. 783, 3-15-2011)