Park – Athletic Complex Rules

For the Parks and Athletic Fields of the City of Sulphur Springs, TX

1.    General Park and Recreation Rules

1.1.   No Alcohol Beverages or Narcotic Drugs – There is to be no consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages or non-prescription narcotic drugs in the City of Sulphur Springs, Texas, parks. Violations should be reported to the law enforcement agencies.

1.2.   No Smoking – City Ordinance Number 2190 prohibits smoking in indoor or outdoor service lines and any public or privately owned unenclosed area to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access designated by owner, manager or operator as a nonsmoking areas and any seating area of any publicly or privately owned outdoor athletic facility having an overall fixed seating capacity of at least six hundred people and used for the purpose of viewing a single athletic field. Complaints should be made to the Police Department.

1.3.   Golf Balls – No person shall have golfing equipment or hit golf balls on park property. Golf balls left in the park can cause serious personal injury when left on the grounds and picked up with grounds equipment.

1.4.   Damage to Plants – No person shall purposely, knowingly, recklessly or negligently destroy or remove any tree, flower, shrub, grass or any part thereof from the parks property. Help preserve the beauty of the park.

1.5.   Weapons Prohibited – No weapons, fireworks, explosive or items deemed as threatening allowed in the parks of Sulphur Springs. Report incidents to the Police Department.

1.6.   Improper Use of Squirt Guns Prohibited – Squirt guns and squirts bottles will be confiscated if used to annoy others in the parks.

1.7.   Parking of Motor Vehicles – Motor vehicles must be properly parked in designated parking areas only, not abandoned on roadways or parked as to block pedestrian or emergency access to park facilities or if oversized, must be parked in designated oversized vehicle parking areas. No vehicle is to be parked along a roadway, blocking entrances, on grassed areas, in athletic areas or other posted areas. Violators may be ticketed and towed at owner expense.

1.8.   Drinking Water – Visitors at the park are not to drink water or fill containers at field faucets, water turn off boxes or any other faucet that is not designated as a drinking fountain or faucet.

1.9.   Behavior in Parks – Visitors engaged in disruptive, destructive or hazardous conduct may be warned and asked to stop such conduct immediately by Park and Recreation attendant. Under circumstances where a visitor’s conduct is unlawful or poses imminent threat of injury or prevents public enjoyment, the violator may be asked to leave the park and/or reported to the Police.

1.10.  Unattended Property – Persons that leave vehicles, boats or other property unattended in the parks that could create a hazardous or unsafe condition may have that item removed from the park at their expense. Vehicles or equipment left after the park is closed may be removed to a safe place, impounded or turned over to the Police. Lost and found items will be turned over to City Hall to hold.

1.11.  Pets – Visitors with pets or other animals in the park shall keep them confined or in direct control in accordance with City ordinances. Pets that become a nuisance, sanitation problem or threat must be removed from the park.

1.12.  Horses – Horses except those ridden by law enforcement officers, are not to be ridden in the parks except in areas designated as horseback ridding trails.

1.13.  Fires – Open fires are not permitted in any park area except in the barbecue grills provided at picnic sites. Portable gas grills may only be located on the available picnic tables. During periods of extreme fire hazard, the Parks and Recreation Director may restrict all fires, smoking and some activities that would endanger the park to fire damage.

1.14.  Boats – When boats are permitted on park lakes, they must be a maximum of about fifteen feet in length and can only be powered with an electric trolling motor. Park and Recreation employees and law enforcement may have motor boats. Hazardous, illegal, reckless or dangerous conduct in a boat is grounds for eviction from the lake and/or removal from the park by law enforcement persons.

1.15.  Camping – No person or group shall camp in any park unless there is written letter by the Parks and Recreation Director and approval by the City Manager.

1.16.  Trail Use – No persons may operate or use a motor vehicle including motorcycle, trail bikes, all terrain vehicles, off road vehicles or utility vehicles on a trail or path not designated for such use by posted signs.

1.16.1.  Bicycle, Skates, Scooters and Skateboards – Bicycles, tricycles, skates, scooters and skateboards are permitted on paved sidewalks or hard surface trails in the park where they are not prohibited by posted signs. They must be rode single file and yield to joggers and walkers. Complaints will be investigated and violators will be notified, prohibited in the park or fined. Bicycles, skates, scooters or skateboards are not to be ridden in parking lots with vehicles, be on the grass, rocky areas or dirt surfaces in the parks. Ridding bicycles on roadways is permitted when obeying the law. Ridding any non-motorized vehicle recklessly or creating a hazard will result in eviction from the park. Bicycles, tricycles, scooters, skates and skateboards are not permitted to be in and about athletic complexes and, if present, they will be escorted out of the complex.

1.17.     Performing Artists – Individuals may perform as artist or entertain in City parks as long as they do not impede normal park activities, the performance is suitable for all ages, they are located away from concession stands, are not set up to interfere with other events in the parks, do not use amplified sound system, are not a juggling act and do not require an admission fee.

1.18.        Selling and Soliciting – No selling of goods or soliciting in parks without prior written permission of the Parks and Recreation Director. No products are to be sold in the parks that will compete with the concession stands or violate any beverage/concession contracts that the city has with a vendor. Fund raising projects by nonprofit groups must have written permission by the Parks and Recreation Director prior to the event and have a highly visible sign that state who receives the proceeds of the fund raiser.

1.19.        Groups at Children Activity Areas in the Parks – Children activity areas in the parks such as Kids Kingdom and Imagination Mountain are for the enjoyment of the public as well as groups. Children of the appropriate age should use these activity areas and those that are not will be asked to leave. Older age groups can schedule their activities in the athletic complexes and swimming pool by contacting the Parks and Recreation Department

1.20.        Gray’s Building – The Gray’s Building at Pacific Park can be scheduled for family and group gatherings. Contact the Parks and Recreation Department for availability and reservation fee.

1.21.        Trash – Littering is not permitted in City parks and dumping is unlawful either on the parks grounds or its dumpsters. Violators will be reported to the Police.

2.    Athletic Complexes

2.1.   Park Rules – All Park Rules applicable for the Athletic Complex.

2.2.   Public Users and Reserved Fields – Designated Practice Fields can be used by the public, unless posted, for their activity without User Agreement, scheduling with the Parks and Recreation Department, or payment of a User Fee. Game fields are not for general public use without a reservation from the Parks and Recreation Department. Game Fields are restricted to games, supervised practices or tournaments. It is suggested that all Users check the Official P&R Schedule of Events located on the Parks and Recreation website or contact the Recreational Coordinator (903 439-1189) before entering an athletic field that they are not sure is for available for their use. Public Users are expected to follow all Park Rules, be considerate of other waiting to use the field by limiting usage to one and one-half hour periods, not damage public property/equipment, never enter a posted or fields prepared for events, be responsible for liability and injuries to themselves and others, not play balls off the fences (soft toss). Teams practicing or warming-up should have a practice net and stay out of ball fields and away from fences when they wish to soft toss balls). Please relinquish the fields to Users of scheduled events and maintenance crews. Practice fields at Buford Park will have lights on between one-half hour before sunset till 11:30 PM during the ball season.

2.3.   Practices and Supervised Practice – Teams, groups, organizations or individuals that conduct Practices on athletic fields will be considered Public Users as provided in paragraph 2.1 and subject to the provisions of paragraph 2.1. There shall not be any practice on designated Game Fields, Coleman Park Fields one through six or on any field consigned under an executed User Agreement.

2.3.1.      Soft Toss – Soft toss nets are to be erected before any Supervised Practice or Warm-Up is to be conducted on a ball field.

2.3.2.      Supervised Practice – Teams with a Standard User Agreement may arrange for Supervised Practice two weeks prior to their Playing Season and post season pre tournament when approved and on the Official Schedule of Events.

2.3.2.1.            Supervised Practice Guide – Players participating in Supervised Practice must be under their organizational supervision and follow all rules, scheduling and provisions of their Organization. The Organizations are completely responsible for their player’s conduct, scheduling, liable and injuries. The Parks and Recreation Department will make every effort to honor the organization’s schedule and field assignments but reserve the right to cancel without makeup and/or reassign the Supervised Practice when necessary. The User Organizations are not to permit their players to hold Supervised Practice three business days and the inclusive weekend prior to the beginning of the Play Season.

2.4.   Post Season Events – Groups under a User Agreement must have approval of their requested schedule and have it posted in the Exhibit of their User Agreement and/or on the Parks and Recreation Website before commencing play. Requests should have enough lead time to schedule any needed field preparation, before any other group schedules the fields, so concession stand can arrange to be open and there is time to make it a part of the Official Schedule of Events.

2.5.   Tournaments and Special Events. – Tournaments and Special events on athletic fields require a Tournament/Special Events User Agreement and payment of the non refundable User Fee before the fields can be reserved for the events. User having a tentative reservation will be contacted about options when another group desires to schedule the field(s) for the same time.

2.6.   Violation of Rule – Violators of rules who are conducting events with a User Agreement can receive a suspension without make-up for one scheduled game in their Play Season. Subsequence violations can receive additional suspensions. All suspensions are without make-up and without refund of the User Fee. Suspended games can be scheduled under a separate User Agreement with payment of the appropriate User Fee. Public Users, without a User Agreement on a field will be required to pay the appropriate User Fee, sign liability/injury waiver or be asked to leave the field immediately.

2.7.   Time Requirement to Request a User Agreement – Play Season and Supervised Practice under a Standard User Agreement cannot begin before the requirements are met and signing of the User Agreement. Call or visit the Recreational Coordinator to discuss availability of fields for the times that you are planning to schedule games and he will set up a time schedule to prepare the User Agreement. The Play Season team schedules should be presented to the Recreational Coordinator as soon as possible so it can be placed in the Official P&R Schedule of Events and the fields can be tentatively reserved. Fields are not reserved until the User Agreement is signed and User Fee paid. However, if a tentative reservation is made and another group desires the same reservation space, the first tentative reservation holder will be notified and given a chance to write a User Agreement before release of the field.

2.8.   Requirements to Obtain a User Agreement – Preparing a User Agreement requires that all the necessary documentation be gathered, organized, compiled and prepared for signing. This process will require some planning and time.

2.8.1.      Contact the Parks and Recreation Department – The User Agreement Representative authorized by the organization seeking a User Agreement should contact the Recreational Coordinator of the Parks and Recreation Department to confirm the availability of the fields before scheduling of events and request the materials to initiate a User Agreement. A check-off List for Field Reservation And User Agreement can be obtained at the Parks website, www.colemanpark.com or picked up at the Parks and Recreation Office.

2.8.2.      Insurance Requirement – The User must have proof of liability and accident insurance. The City Manager must approve all policies before the User Agreement process continues. A waiver of liability and injury Insurance can be substituted for a policy if the City Manager approves the request and all participants have a waiver form on file at the Parks and Recreation Office..

2.8.3.      Submit a Schedule of Events – In a timely manner before the appointment to sign the User Agreement, the representative should submit an accurate schedule of games or events that has the Start Time, Date, Type of Event, Description or Label of the Event, Park, Field Number and Ending Time. Forms, email file or contact the Recreational Coordinator for help to make the task easier. Organizations using a scheduling program can submit their document as long as it has the above information included. The schedule must be signed by the representative and each page initialed before submitting to the Parks and Recreation Department. Tournament/Special Event Users may submit game brackets with times instead of the schedule. The Recreational Coordinator will review the schedule and upon approval place it on an Official P&R Schedule of Events. The Official P&R Schedule of Events placed in the User Agreement’s exhibit and /or on the Parks and Recreation website.

2.8.3.1.      No Schedule Times – User are not to schedule games on Sundays and City’s official Holiday or weekends as part of a Holiday unless the Parks and Recreation Department can accomplish all setup prior to the starting of the Holiday and no overtime labor will be required by the User during the Holiday period. User may schedule these times if they are willing to pay a surcharge with their User Fee.

2.8.3.2.      Schedule Preference – The Hopkins County Boys Baseball Association, Hopkins County Girls Softball Association and the Sulphur Springs Youth Soccer Association will be provided first opportunity to reserve the fields in the Sulphur Springs Park’s Athletic Complexes to meet the event requirement of their affiliated youth athletic organizations.

2.8.3.3.      Revision of Official Schedule – The User Representative or the designated persons should contact the Recreational Coordinator, email to citypandr2@1starnet.com, requests of changes to the official Schedule of Events. Approved changes will be incorporated in the User Agreement and/or posted on the Parks and Recreation website, www.colemanpark.com. No changes or rescheduled events are to be played unless it appears in the Official Schedule of Events.

2.8.3.4.      Automatic Rescheduling – The Recreational Coordinator will immediately reschedule a make-up of canceled events into available time slots and post them on the Official P&R Schedule of Events appearing on the website, www.colemanpark.com. Unacceptable reschedules should be changed by approval of the Recreational Coordinator and revised in the Official Schedule of Events.

2.8.3.4.1.      Missed or Suspended Events – Events that were not cancelled by the Parks and Recreation Department or scheduled times that were not attended by the teams or were suspended without make-up will not be automatically rescheduled. Teams that are required to play any missed or suspended event may do so by reserving the fields under separate User Agreement and pay the appropriate User Fee.

2.8.3.5.No Refund – There will be no refunds of User Fee for any non-attended scheduled event, suspended event or cancelled event either initiated by the User or the Parks and Recreation Department.

2.8.4.      Submit a Player and Team Roster – The representative should submit a roster of the payers or teams, coaches, commissioners and other organizational leadership including full name, address, emergency phone number, age, league and team of players. This will become an Exhibit of the User Agreement. Representatives may request forms or an MS Excel program either on diskette or email file for this form from the Parks and Recreation Department.

2.8.5.     Organization By-Laws and Playing Rules – The organization should submit a copy of its by-laws, minutes of the meeting authorizing the Representative rights to obtain and administer a User Agreement and a copy of the play rules for teams.

2.8.6.      User Fee – A User Fee and any surcharges due must be paid before the User Agreement is signed and executed.

2.8.7.      Execution of User Agreement – The authorized representative of the User Organization should make an appointment with the City Secretary and sign the User Agreement.

3.     General Athletic Complex Rules

3.1.         No Motorized Vehicles – There is not to be any motorized vehicles in the parks except on roadways and designated parking areas except vehicles operated by Parks and Recreation Department employees, emergency vehicles and City Maintenance Personnel. Motorized utility vehicles, golf carts, off road sports vehicles and tractors are not permitted in the parks except for those vehicles operated by the Park and Recreation Department employees, law enforcement agencies, emergency personnel, disable/handicap equipment and City Maintenance Personnel. Exceptions must have written permission by the Parks and Recreation Director. Violators will be evicted, reported to law enforcement agency or fined and removed at owner expense.

3.2.      Parking – Motorized vehicles are not to park in non-designated parking areas, in roadways, driveways, along posted roadways, in picnic areas or on the turf, unless posted otherwise. Oversize vehicles, extended pickups and trucks are to park in the north Coleman parking lot and in such a manner as not to hinder traffic flow or block other vehicles. Trailer parking must be in the non-paved overflow parking area as posted. Vehicles must park between the lines in marked parking lots. Violators may be asked to move their vehicle or will be required to pay fines, damages to property and towing charges for removal.

3.3.   Skates, Bicycles, Scooters and Skateboards – Skates, bicycles, tricycles, scooters, skateboards and other similar non-motorized conveyances are not permitted in the Coleman Park Athletic Complexes or on grass areas of the sidewalks or grassed areas of the Complex. Bicycles are to obey all traffic laws when on the park roadways and parking lots. Skateboards and skates are not permitted on roadways and in the parking lots when cars are present in the parking lots. Pedestrians have the right of way at all times and are not to be forced off walkways. Violators will be suspended from the park, reported to law enforcement and charged for any damages. Bicycles may be parked in the no parking corners of the parking lots marked with yellow lines.

3.4.         Tobacco Products Prohibited – Smoking is not permitted around concession areas and athletic fields except in the designated smoking areas described by City ordinance. Smoking and non-smoke tobacco is not permitted inside the fields, inside or outside the dugouts of the ball fields. Spitting on paved areas is not permitted. Reported violators will be prosecuted under City Ordinance.

3.5.      Littering – Trash is to be placed in provided containers or hauled out of the park. Intentional littering will be reported to law enforcement and individuals will be prosecuted. Teams are expected to pick up litter on the fields, in dugouts and around bleacher areas before leaving after their event. Teams that violate this rule will be suspended one event without make-up, second offense for two suspensions and for a third offense will be suspended for the remainder of the Playing Season without User Fee Refund.

3.6.      Pets in the Parks – Pets are not permitted on the athletic fields. Pets in the Athletic Complex must be leashed or under the direct command of the owner. Pet owners are to remove any fecal remains on sidewalks, roadways, parking lots and in the Athletic Complexes.

3.7.Park Hours – The gates at the entrance of Coleman Parks will shut and lights will turn off when Coleman Park is closes. Normal Park open hours are from 5:30 AM to 12:00 AM daily. Entrance gates may close earlier than park closing time but the exit gate will remain open till 12AM. The park closing time may be earlier in non playing seasons.

3.8.      Field Restricted to Entrance – Fields prepared for play, locked or posted are not to be entered or used for play unless you are the scheduled user and appear on the Official P&R Schedule of Events. Fields prepared for play and damaged either by User teams or others may not be repaired for play by the Parks and Recreation Department for the scheduled event unless there is sufficient available time during normal working hours before the event. Coleman Park Game Fields (Fields #1 through #6) in the baseball/softball complex are not for public use and should not be entered unless you are a scheduled user and scheduled users should not enter prior to twenty minutes before the event.

3.9.Tennis Courts – The tennis courts at Coleman Park are open public use but will be locked. Persons wishing to use these facilities should seek out a Parks and Recreation employee to unlock the gate or obtain their own key from the Parks and Recreation Department.

3.10.  Lights on Athletic Fields – The lights on Athletic Fields are controlled by automatic timers. The Parks and Recreation Department will set the timers according to the Official Schedule of Events. Timers will be set to automatically turn on thirty minutes before sunset and turn off the lights after the last event of the evening. If lights should go off during an event, it will take twenty minutes to reset the lights. Report lighting malfunction to either the concession stand or call (903) 439-1189 (call forwarded) for the Parks and Recreation duty personnel. Calls should not be made to the Police Department or City Hall for repair or service needs. Persons that open electric or light control boxes may be suspended from the park and/or prosecuted for criminal activity.

3.11.  Irrigation Controls – Irrigation at Coleman Park is controlled electrically. If there is a malfunction and sprinklers are on during a game do not turn the water values off while the electrical system is operating. Report the malfunction to the concession stand or call (903) 439-1189 for assistance. Fields that becomes wet from a malfunction may have their games cancelled, moved or rescheduled.

3.12.  Emergency or Illegal Activity – Persons encountering an emergency, criminal act or mischief in the park should use the 911 phone available in the park.

3.12.1.  Criminal Activity – If criminal activity is conducted and discovered, it should be reported to the Police Department by calling (903) 885-7602.

3.12.2.  Medical Airlift – A medical airlift will require that portions of the park be corridor off and that spectators stay away from emergency personnel and vehicles. Vehicles blocking access by emergency may be forcibly removed. Park personnel will be using their vehicles to convey victim(s).

3.12.3.  Evacuation – There may be situations like a chemical spill or explosion that will require that the park to be evacuated. When these circumstances occur obey instructions from the Police and Parks and/or Recreation Department employees. You may be asked to leave on foot or by vehicle on paths off the road.

3.12.4.  Weather Alert – You will be asked to leave the parks in the prospect of an electrical storm or high winds. No one should remain around the fields if they hear thunder or see lightning. The Athletic Complex is closed when a thunder storm approaches. Check the Message Hotline (903) 439-4610 or website, www.colemanpark.com when there is threat of bad weather for field closure prior to scheduled events. The final Hotline message update will be at 3 PM on business days. Decision to close a field will be made prior to the 3 PM updated Message Hotline and this decision is final. On-site decision to close the fields because of adverse weather conditions will be communicated from the concession stand or a Parks and Recreation Department employee. No one is to reenter the athletic complex for thirty minutes after all signs of the hazard are over.

3.13.  Fund Raising – Fund Raising is generally not permitted in the Athletic Complex unless specified in the User Agreement or written letter from the Parks and Recreation Director. A fund raiser is not to violate the City of Sulphur Springs beverage contract, interfere with a scheduled event, annoy the public or be in competition with the concession stands.

3.14.  Admission Charge – Under certain circumstances admission fees will be permitted to be collected to enter a special event at athletic complexes. These fees are to be collected directly at the event site entrance and away from Park or Complex entrances. General public traffic is not to be denied access needed to go to another location in the Park and the admission is not to become an annoyance to other Park patrons. Admission clerks are to be courtesy to the public and permit non attendees to pass on walkways without interference. The admission cost and receivers of the money are to be posted at the collection site.

3.15.  Water – Do not drink water other than at the water fountain at concession stands. Drink only known water sources that are for public consumption.

3.16.  Children – Children in the athletic complex not participating in athletic events should be closely monitored by parents. They should not be inside an athletic field fence or permitted to be an annoyance to other persons in the park. Parents should instruct their children about poisonous plants, snakes, animals and other hazardous situations that are found in a park.

3.17.  Weapons – Weapons, firearms, explosive materials or large knives are not permitted in the athletic complex or in unsecured vehicles. Displaying or threatening with a weapon is unlawful and the violator is subject to arrest and fines.

3.18.  Cleats – No steel cleats on any field unless permitted by the playing Association.

3.19.  Destruction of Property – No person shall purposely, knowingly, recklessly or negligently destroy any property, trees, shrubs, grass or ground or any part thereof in the athletic complex. There shall be no abusing, jumping on, pushing or throwing of objects at fences, building or equipment in the athletic complex. Vandalism is strictly prohibited. Those committing such acts will be suspended, evicted or prosecuted.

3.20.  Improper Speech or Conduct – Persons who engage in disruptive, destructive, unlawful, hazardous, offensive, abusive or threatening conduct or speech shall be evicted or suspended by Parks and Recreation Department personnel or be reported to law enforcement. Persons making offensive gestures, promoting conflict or using provocative words will be asked to leave the athletic complex.

3.21.  Lawful Request – A lawful request by Parks and Recreation Department employees, emergency personnel, or law officers must be obeyed. Hostile, contemptuous or argumentative responses are not acceptable and can result in a request to leave the park or arrest.

3.22.  Signs – No sign or banners are to be erected on the Athletic Complex unless written permission is granted by the Director of Parks and Recreation. They must be removed according to written agreement.

3.23.  Leadership Requirement – All events in the Athletic Complex shall have adult leadership or supervision present by the sponsoring organization or sponser. Leadership is responsible to honor and inform all participants of the Parks and Recreation Department rules and terms of the User Agreement.

3.24.  Reasonable Expectation – Persons at the Athletic Complex are expected to use common sense, reasonable actions and be lawful in their activities even though there may not be a rule to address such circumstances as might unexpectedly occur. Players and leadership should always conduct themselves in a sportsmanship like manner and use respectful field conduct at all events. Leadership is expected to model and teach such reasonable standards to their youthful players. The organization’s leadership is expected to be of sound character and to emphasis fair play at all their events. The Parks and Recreation Department will promote recreational athletics and character building activities and will not support activities and events in City parks which contradict these directions and values.

3.25.  Variance to Rules – Any request of variance to the rules contained in this document must be done by official letter from the Director of Parks and Recreation.