St. Joseph City Commissioners have given preliminary approval to an ordinance update setting new operating hours for parks.
Speaking to commissioners this week, Public Works Director Greg Grothous said the current ordinance states that using or entering a public park between 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m., unless specifically posted or otherwise allowed by the city, is prohibited. However, that’s led to complaints from people who want to walk, stargaze, and fish.
“Public Safety has asked fishermen to leave Riverview Park because they were there fishing at 5:30,” Grothous said. “This would allow them to do that and they wouldn’t have to — they were doing nothing wrong. They were just in the park outside of what was allowed.”
Grothous said he’s contacted other communities around the state and come up with an update to the ordinance that could address such users. He told commissioners what he’s proposing.
“Park hours are 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. unless otherwise posted. From 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., parks may only be used for quiet, passive, recreational activities such as walking, fishing, bird watching, and stargazing.”
Mayor Brook Thomas said she at first questioned the need for the change, but after speaking with staff and the parks board, she believes it makes sense.
Commissioners then approved a first reading of an amendment to the parks ordinance to free up use of the parks for those quiet users looking to visit them outside normal hours.
