No Donkey Rides or Picking Flowers. These and Other Rules At Lubbock Parks

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Lubbock has a lot of great parks for families to enjoy. But did you know the City of Lubbock actually has a list of activities that are banned inside local parks? While Summer may be winding down, Fall is actually a great time to use our parks, but there are some rules you need to know about.

Many of the regulations make sense. If you planned on swimming, taking a bath or ice skating, well, you're pretty much out of luck. Those activities are not allowed, except in places with a specific designation. And let's be honest, banning people from taking a bath in the park is a rule we can all get behind.

Another rule? You can play sports, but not sanctioned game. Citizens are prohibited from playing sanctioned games of football, basketball, golf, soccer, etc. in a city park. Of course, you can always play a pick up game or a game between friends or two different groups as long as it's a friendly game.

Some other activities banned at Lubbock Parks? You can't fly or launch a rocket or model airplane. You also can't operate a metal detector which I guess makes sense because you can't dig or excavate any artifacts. Nor can you remove any trees or shrubs. And if you pick a flower, that's also against the rules.

One of my other favorite rules? No riding, lead or drive any horse, mule, donkey or other equine animal over or through a park. Unless of course the city says it's okay.

Here Are The Activities That Are Banned at City of Lubbock Parks

§ 16.01.004Unlawful activities within parks.

It shall be unlawful for any person within a public park or playground to commit or do any of the following acts:

(1) 

To play any sanctioned game of baseball, softball, football, soccer, or other games of like character, or to play any game or activity of golf, archery, paintball, or other games of like character in any park or playground except at the places set apart and designated as grounds therefor.

(2) 

To place and/or operate any boat, raft or other watercraft capable of being occupied by one or more persons, whether motor-powered or not, in or on the waters of any pool, lake or river in any park within the city. Upon receiving a permit from the director of parks and recreation, the use of zero-emission boats, rafts, or other watercraft may be allowed, but only in the places set apart and designated therefor.

(3) 

To swim, bathe, wade, or ice skate in or on any waters, pool, lake or river in any park within the city except at the places set apart and designated as grounds therefor.

(4) 

To fish in any waters, pool, lake or river in any park within the city except at the places set apart and designated therefor and in compliance with the rules and regulations established therefor.

(5) 

To camp in any park within the city, except at the places set apart and designated as grounds therefor by the director of parks and recreation.

(6) 

To ride, drive or propel any motor vehicle, all terrain vehicle, motorbike or motor scooter over or through any park within the city, except upon the grounds of Meadowbrook Golf Course and upon any other grounds set apart and designated as grounds therefor. This section shall not apply to city vehicles, emergency vehicles, designated contract service vehicles or other vehicles as designated by the director of parks and recreation.

(7) 

To fly or launch any rocket or any model airplane, either by attached or remote control, in any park or playground within the city except at the places set apart and designated as grounds therefor.

(8) 

To operate or drive any vehicle within any city park at a speed greater than twenty (20) miles per hour upon any park road.

(9) 

To remove any tree, shrub, bush or plant, or injure the bark, or pick the flowers or seeds of any tree or plant, or attach any rope, wire or other contrivance to any tree, shrub, bush or plant, or dig in or otherwise disturb grass areas, or in any other way injure or impair the natural beauty or usefulness of any area.

(10) 

To ride, lead or drive any horse, mule, donkey or other equine animal over or through any park within the city except upon grounds set apart and designated as grounds therefor.

(11) 

To take game fish and nongame fish with any gear or device other than pole and line. A permit to take game fish and nongame fish with gear or devices other than pole and line may be granted by the director of parks and recreation upon a finding that the party requesting the permit for such activity has been granted authority by the department of parks and wildlife of the State of Texas, and that the activity will further a public purpose of the City of Lubbock.

(12) 

To remove, excavate, take, damage or search for any artifact, except as expressly permitted by all entities having jurisdiction over such activities, including, without limitation, the Texas Historical Commission.

(13) 

To bring, possess, carry or transport upon any public park any glass container, including, without limitation, bottles and drinking glasses.

(14) 

To utilize or operate a metal detector or metal-detecting equipment within any public park unless otherwise permitted in writing by the director of parks and recreation.

(15) 

To keep or permit any dog or other animal in or about the boundaries of the sporting facilities located in any park during an organized sporting event except for animals used to aid a handicapped person or used for police purposes.

(16) 

To place or use any portable toilet in any public park, public playground, or public space within the city, except at those areas set apart and designated as grounds therefor by the parks and recreation director who shall produce a list of such designated grounds upon request. The list of designated grounds shall also be made available on the City of Lubbock Parks and Recreation website.

You can view the whole city code here.