Ossian passes park regulations

The Ossian Town Council passed Ordinance 12-6-3 Monday night, establishing rules and regulations for parks in Ossian. The ordinance regulates those areas are defined as, but not limited to, "any lands, buildings, structures, waters, parks, walking trails, drives and roadways within all designated parks in the Town of Ossian ..."

Learn more in the Tuesday, June 26, News-Banner.

The rules that follow have been summarized from the ordinance:

• When they are closed to the public, no one is allowed in these parks and no vehicles can be parked in these areas.
• Trash should be disposed of in provided receptacles.
• The defined areas, including signs and other fixtures, may not be altered, removed or defaced.
• Wildlife found in these areas cannot be disturbed or removed.
• No swimming is allowed in any waters located in any park.
• Continuous supervision is required of pets, including "preventing or promptly repairing any damages caused by the pet and picking-up and disposing of any excrement dropped by the pet."
• Camping is not permitted in any town park property.
• No fires can be built or maintained in a park, with the exception of the use of a grill, which must be monitored.
• No one is allowed to "solicit, advertise, sell, photograph or promote for sale any commercial product or event within an park or other recreational area" in Ossian without written consent from the town manager. This includes distribution and posting of flyers and other written material.
• The speed limit for vehicles and bicycles is 15 mph, unless posted otherwise.
• No motorized vehicle, bicycle, skateboard or likewise device is allowed on trails designated for pedestrians.
• Prohibited activities include: littering, using park equipment or structures for anything other than their intended purpose, entering areas posted as closed to the public, and engaging in threatening or indecent language intended to disrupt the public peace. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
• The possession, consumption, selling or exchanging of alcoholic beverages on park property is not permitted.
• The possession or use of a weapon on park property is not permitted. This is defined as an object that is or is ordinarily used to cause serious bodily injury. ("This prohibition excludes duly sworn Ossian Police Officers or duly sworn police officer located in the State of Indiana.")
• No registered sex offender is permitted on park property.
• Violations of the above rules, with two exceptions, will result in a $25 fine on first offense and $50 for each following offense. The exceptions are violating the rules regarding the possession or use of alcohol or a weapon, which will result in a fine of $100 for the first offense and $200 for each following offense.
• In addition to these fines, "any person who damages park property is subject to payment of restitution in an amount equal to the Town of Ossian's cost to repair said damage."
• The Ossian Department of Park and Recreation and its agent ("specifically including but not necessarily limited to any member of the Ossian Police Department") can remove or exclude from park property anyone whom said representative believes is "acting in such a way as to endanger the health or safety of any other park user or to be acting in such a way as to prevent the use and enjoyment of the park by another park user," according to the ordinance. "No person who is removed or excluded from the park shall reenter the park within 24 hours after the original removal or exclusion."