Park Rules

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Sec. 17-72. Park Regulations

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CYPRESS, CALIFORNIA, AND ACTING AS EX-OFFICIO BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CYPRESS RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT, AMENDING SECTION 17-72 OF THE CYPRESS MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO PARK REGULATIONS AND FINDING THE ACTION EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT

WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Cypress, also acting as the ex-officio Board of Directors for the Cypress Recreation and Park District, desires to update the City’s Park regulations; and

WHEREAS, park regulations protect park areas and recreation facilities for the enjoyment, convenience, and safety of park visitors; and

WHEREAS, on March 11, 2024, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing and considered public testimony and evidence on this Ordinance.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CYPRESS DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1.  The City Council hereby specifically finds that all of the facts set forth in the above Recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein as findings of the City Council.

SECTION 2.  Section 17-72 (Park Regulations) of Chapter 17 of the Cypress Municipal Code is hereby amended as follows:

17-72. Park Regulations

For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth herein:

1.  Park means any public park or portion thereof, including a body of water, a publicly owned recreation or playground area, or any building or recreation facility thereon, including parking lot areas adjacent thereto, within the city which is owned and maintained by the city and/or the Cypress Recreation and Park District as a public park whether or not such has been formally dedicated to such purpose.

2.  Recreation facility means any building or structure which is located on public property, including parking lot areas adjacent thereto, and available for use by the public for recreation purposes which is owned and maintained by the city and/or the Cypress Recreation and Park District.

It shall be unlawful for any person within the limits of any park or other recreation facility owned and operated by the city and/or the Cypress Recreation and Park District to:

  1. Lead or let loose any animal except:
    1. Dogs on a leash or cats, which are under the immediate control of the custodian of the same; or
    2. Small pets which are held by a custodian at all times.

    The provisions of this section shall not apply to any city/district-sanctioned program, activity, or event which makes an exception to this subsection.

  2. Post or affix to any City/district park or recreation facility property, any bills, notice, paper or advertising device or matter of any kind. The distribution of fliers at any City/district sanctioned event shall be conducted only at the times and locations determined by the City/district.
  3. Camp or lodge overnight. No person shall erect tents, shacks, or any other temporary shelter for the purpose of overnight camping in violation of Section 17-4, nor shall any person leave in a park after closing hours any movable structure or vehicle that could be used for such purpose in violation of Section 17-4. The provisions of this section shall not apply when in connection with a City/district sanctioned event.
  4. Construct or erect any building or structure of whatever kind, whether permanent or temporary in character, without permit from the City/district for such purpose.
  5. Enter, remain within, or loiter in or upon any park or recreation facility during the hours such park or facility is deemed closed by posted signs except to attend a city/district sanctioned event or pursuant to an authorization issued by the city/district and then only in such park area or recreation facility area as designated by the city/district. This section shall not be enforced against persons experiencing homelessness for sitting, lying, or sleeping on any park or recreation facility if the City determines such enforcement would be inconsistent with any applicable state or federal law or regulation.
  6. Engage in any disorderly conduct. Disorderly conduct includes, but is not limited to:

    1. Riotous, threatening or indecent conduct, or using abusive, threatening, or profane language

    2. Any other violation of any section of the Penal Code section of the State of California regarding disorderly conduct.
  7. Consume, distribute, or be in the possession of any alcoholic beverage except pursuant to an authorization issued by the City/district.

  8. Smoke or use tobacco and/or cannabis products within 25 feet of a playground, tot lot sandbox, or recreational area specifically designed for use by children, and within 250 feet of a youth sports event, which includes any practice, game, or related activity at which athletes up to 18 years of age are present.

  9. Possess, transport, purchase, sell, giving away, consume or ingest any non-prescription narcotics or illegal drugs.
  10. Hold any organized or sponsored event, service, concert, parade or exhibition consisting of twenty-five (25) or more persons without first obtaining a permit for such event from the city/district.
  11. Hold any organized exercise or athletic activity, practice, competition, camp, or tournament consisting of ten (10) or more persons without first obtaining a permit for such athletic activity from the city/district.
  12. Engage in any activity of any size that would unreasonably damage the park, recreation facility, or related amenities beyond normal wear and tear.
  13. Light or maintain any fire except in designated picnic stoves, barbecues, fire pits or other area provided for such purposes.
  14. Operate battery or fuel-powered model or miniature helicopters or airplanes, drones, rockets or missiles of any type except in areas designated by the city/district for such purposes.
  15. Play, practice or in any way engage in the game of golf except at times and places designated by the City/district for such purposes.
  16. Practice, carry on, conduct or solicit for any trade, occupation, business or profession of whatsoever kind or character without permission of the city/district. Nothing in the subsection is intended to prevent any person from expressing freedoms protected by the First Amendment.
  17. Dig or remove any soil, rock, stone, tree, shrub or plant, down-timber or other wood materials, or make any excavation by tool, equipment, blasting, or other means, except in designated sandboxes of the city/district. No materials, substances or objects shall be placed in the sandbox sand.
  18. Willfully mark, deface, disfigure, injure, tamper with, displace or remove, any building, bridge, table, bench, fireplace, railing, paving, water line or other public utility, sign, notice or placard, monument, post, or other structure or equipment.
  19. Install, use or operate a loudspeaker or any sound-amplifying equipment for the purpose of giving instruction, direction, talks, lectures, or of transmitting music to any persons in any park except under permit issued by the city and when operated in accordance with the terms of such permit. No person shall play any electronic sound-producing device, including those inside vehicles, at such a volume so as to be audible at a distance of 150 feet or more.
  20. For any person over the age of four years old to appear, bathe, sunbathe, walk or be on any public park, playground, or on any other public land, or on any private property open to public view from any playground, park, public place, or public right-of-way in such a manner as to knowingly and intentionally expose his or her genitals, pubic hair, perineum, anal region or pubic hair region, or expose the nipples and/or areola of the female breast except as necessary while engaging in breastfeeding.
  21. Throw, discard or dispose of any garbage or refuse upon the ground or in any place other than a garbage can or other receptacle maintained for such purpose. Large construction trash, waste, household furniture, grease, cooking oil or motor oil may not be disposed of in any garbage can or receptacle in a park or recreation facility.
  22. Molest, harass, injure or kill any animal.  For the purposes of this section, harass is defined as an intentional act that disrupts an animal’s normal behavior patterns, which includes but is not limited to, breeding, feeding or sheltering.
  23. Drive or otherwise operate an e-bike or other motorized vehicle within a park or recreation facility, except upon surfaces maintained and open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel. No person shall ride or propel a bicycle, scooter, skateboard, or roller skates, or other motorized vehicle outside of areas designated for such use.  The provisions of this section shall not apply to any city/district-sanctioned program, activity, or event which makes an exception to this subsection.
  24. Swim, fish in, bathe in, wade in, release pet animals in or pollute the water of any fountain, pond, lake, stream, reservoir or other area not designated for such purposes except by permission of the City/district.
  25. For the purposes of this Section, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth herein:
    1. No owner or other person having the charge, custody or control of any dog(s) shall permit, either willfully or through failure to exercise due care, any such dog(s) to defecate and to allow any such feces to remain in any park or recreation facility.
    2. Any person having charge, custody or control of any dog(s), in a park or recreational facility, shall have in possession a suitable disposable bag or container for the purpose of complying with the requirements of this section.
    3. For purposes of this subsection, a “suitable disposable bag or container” shall not be considered to be an article of clothing.
    4. The provisions of this section shall not apply to persons being accompanied by a trained service animal.
    5. Any person violating any of the provisions of subsections (y)1., 2., or 3. shall be deemed guilty of an infraction and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not to exceed two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00).
  26. Lead, possess, consume, use the following equipment, or carry out any activity likely to do damage on synthetic turf athletic fields:
    1. Pets or other animals.
    2. Food, gum, seeds, tobacco products, or any other substances that can stain.
    3. Drinks other than water in non-breakable containers.
    4. Metal cleats, plastic cleats longer than one inch, or footwear containing mud or debris.
    5. Equipment with sharp or narrow legs or posts including but not limited to flags, shade structures, tents, stakes, and umbrellas.
    6. Vehicles of any kind including but not limited to automobiles, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, RC cars, planes, drones, or other vehicles with powered motors.
    7. Any person violating any of the provisions of subsection (z) of this section shall be deemed guilty of an infraction and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) plus the cost to clean or repair any damage caused.

SECTION 3. CEQA. This Ordinance is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because: (1) it does not constitute a “project” under CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(2) in that it constitutes general policy and procedure making; (2) it does not constitute a “project” under CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5) in that it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, either directly or indirectly, and (3) in the alternative, it is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(2), since the activity will not result in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and Section 15061(b)(3), since it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that this Ordinance will have a significant effect on the environment, because the Ordinance is limited to amending park regulations within the City/District. No new construction is proposed.

SECTION 4.  Severability. Should any provision of this Ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unlawful, unenforceable or otherwise void, that determination shall have no effect on any other provision of this Ordinance or the application of this Ordinance to any other person or circumstance and, to that end, the provisions hereof are severable. The City Council of the City of Cypress declares that it would have adopted all the provisions of this Ordinance that remain valid if any provisions of this Ordinance are declared invalid or unconstitutional.

SECTION 5. Effective date. This Ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days from its adoption.

FIRST READING at a regular meeting of the City Council of said City held on the 11th day of March, 2024, and finally adopted and order posted at a regular meeting held on the 25nd day of March, 2024.

Skate Park at Veterans Park Rules

  1. Helmets, elbow pads and knee pads REQUIRED
  2. Skateboards and in-line skates only
  3. No bicycles, motorized vehicles, scooters or pedestrians allowed
  4. No use of alcoholic beverages, drugs or tobacco products
  5. No graffiti, stickers or littering
  6. Skating in the surrounding park is prohibited
  7. Glass products are prohibited
  8. No unauthorized pieces of equipment, obstacles or apparatus
  9. Profanity, loud music, bad behavior and recklessness is not permitted
  10. This skate plaza is for recreational use only and is not intended for pedestrians.

Skating is a hazardous activity; skate at your own risk!

Tennis Court Rules & Regulations

City of Cypress tennis courts may be used free of charge.  City conducted tennis programs have priority over all other uses and requests.  Only the game of tennis shall be allowed on courts.  Special uses of the tennis courts requiring a permit from the Recreation and Community Services Department are as follows:

  • Tennis Instruction
  • Tournaments
  • Any other usage requiring exclusive reservation for more than one tennis set

Rules

  1. The ethics of tennis and sportsmanship shall prevail.
  2. Only persons wearing tennis shoes shall be allowed on the tennis courts.  No street shoes, wheeled shoes, bicycles, or wheeled vehicles of any type may enter the tennis courts.
  3. When others are waiting and no courts are available:
    1. Courts may not be held by one person alone.
    2. One set of singles or doubles may be played with one hour maximum.
    3. Sets resulting in six all shall be determined by one additional game.
    4. Waiting players must remain in person at the outside entrance of the tennis courts for next available court.  No courts can be held nor can priority of right to use the court be established by the placing of a racket or the like on a court.
    5. Warming up for matches must not exceed five (5) minutes.
    6. Players who do not wish to play a set may instead rally for 30 minutes, after which the court must be relinquished.
  4. Pets are not permitted on the courts at any time.
  5. A maximum of six (6) balls shall be used on any court, except for City approved tennis instructors.
  6. Professional tennis instruction will only be permitted by City authorized instructors.
  7. The following items are prohibited in and around courts: alcoholic beverages, glass containers, smoking or amplified sound.
  8. Players are expected to accept City staff's interpretation of the above rules or decisions on the above stated rules.

TENNIS COURT HOURS: 8:00 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M.
LIGHTED HOURS: DUSK TO 10:00 P.M.
TENNIS COURTS CLOSED FOR CLEANING WEDNESDAYS 12:30 P.M. TO 4:30 P.M.
TENNIS COURT RULES FOR PRINTING
FOR ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION ON CITY SPONSORED TENNIS CLASSES: (714) 229-6780