CHAPTER XIV 



PARK POLICING 



In marked contrast to the evident interest of the majority of the 

 people of the United States in securing, developing and using parks and 

 other recreation areas, is the manifold abuse of these areas when once 

 thrown open to use. Whether the majority of the users of recreation areas 

 and equipment are guilty or whether the destruction of parks is due to an 

 active minority, the facts are that unbelievable damage is done to parks 

 -plantings, equipment yearly, to say nothing of the constant watch- 

 fulness that must be maintained to prevent their use for offenses against 

 persons and public morality. Consequently, at the very outset of the devel- 

 opment of a park system, or even of an individual park, plans must be 

 made for the guidance of the people in the use of the property to protect 

 the people's property against themselves. 



PARK RULES AND REGULATIONS 



Simultaneously, therefore, with the development of any park property 

 or properties for public use, it is necessary to lay down certain rules and 

 regulations governing their use. Of course not all of the necessary rules 

 and regulations can be foreseen at once. The great body of these rules 

 that are in force today in various park systems throughout the country 

 have arisen out of the experience that has come from the use of the prop- 

 erties by the people. In order to avoid an excessive amount of restrictions 

 it is better to begin with a few general rules, adding from time to time 

 such rules as experience shows to be necessary. 



The promulgation of rules and regulations for the governing of park 

 properties is a function of the park governing authority. Practically all the 

 state enabling acts and charter provisions for setting up park governing 

 authorities specifically give to these authorities the power to make rules 

 and regulations for the governing of the properties under their jurisdiction. 

 In most instances the rules and regulations, after they have been drawn 

 up and adopted by the park governing authority, must be enacted into 

 ordinances by the general governing authority of the municipality. In inde- 

 pendent park districts or in metropolitan park districts the park governing 

 authorities are specifically empowered to enact their rules and regulations 

 into the form of ordinances without the action of a superior governing 

 authority. 



All rules and regulations adopted by any park governing authority 



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