460 PARKS 



by every type of park governing authority and is a power which as a rule 

 is specifically stated in all legislation providing for park departments. (For 

 a detailed discussion of executive organization, see Chapter VIII, page 507, 

 on "Executive Organization of the Park Department.") 



< \ In Relation to the Legislative Functions of Park Authorities. 



It is universally recognized that certain rules and regulations are neces.- 

 sary for the governing of the people in the use of park areas and facilities. 

 Independent park district authorities possessing corporate authority have 

 the power to formulate necessary rules and regulations for the governing 

 of their properties and to enact them in the form of ordinances which have 

 all the force and effect of ordinances enacted by the municipality. Park 

 boards or commissions are usually empowered to adopt such rules and 

 regulations, but almost universally these must be enacted into the form of 

 resolutions or ordinances by the general governing authority of the munic- 

 ipality or county before they have the force and effect of laws. Under all 

 other forms of park government the city council is the authority to adopt 

 rules and regulations for the governing of the use of park property. 



The power to adopt rules and regulations for the governing of properties 

 involves also the power to enforce such rules and regulations, hence the 

 importance of the police powers granted park authorities. Some laws clothe 

 general administrative park authorities with police powers; others authorize 

 the governing authority to have selected employees of the department sworn 

 in as peace officers, such employees exercising police powers in addition to 

 their regular duties. Still other laws make it possible for the governing 

 authority to authorize a special police or guard force, while some specify 

 that policing of parks shall be a function of constables (villages), sheriffs 

 (counties) or the municipal police (cities). In the larger cities the growing 

 tendency to use the regular municipal police for park policing has not, in 

 most instances, proven satisfactory. Almost universally park executives 

 prefer a special police force under their own control. (For a detailed discus- 

 sion of park police, see Chapter XIV, pages 747-791, on "Park Policing.") 



In Regard to Financial Phases of Park Control. 



I. Accountability for funds. Park legislation almost universally requires 

 park governing authorities not possessing corporate powers to keep accurate 

 record of income and expenditure and render annually, sometimes monthly 

 and annually, to the governing authorities of the municipalities and counties 

 a detailed report of all financial transactions. The Boston Metropolitan 

 District authorities and the Metropolitan Park District of Providence 

 Plantations in Rhode Island are required to render financial reports to 

 state authorities, or officers of the park and recreation department. 



