Regulating the uses of parks.
Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 631-120
in effectSec. 631-120. - Regulating the uses of parks.
The board of parks and recreation is authorized and permitted to provide for, regulate, set aside and allocate the use by persons, vehicles and animals of all the public parks, playgrounds and other public places under its control, but without being limited to such classifications, for and into the following general classes of uses and purposes:
(1) Playground areas: Including baseball diamonds, football fields, golf courses, footrace courses, tennis and squash courts, handball alleys, softball diamonds, basketball courts, bowling greens, horseshoe courts, boating and skating watercourses, bathing beaches, swimming and wading pools, and any other kinds of athletic fields, recreation areas and uses; with all buildings and structures and equipment appurtenant thereto.
(2) Picnic and recreation areas: Including roadside and park tables and outdoor ovens for eating and drinking.
(3) Bridle paths: In or outside of parks.
(4) Public meeting areas: In these areas, public meetings and public forums may be permitted for any lawful purpose or use, after obtaining a permit therefor from the board, to be issued free of charge. In public meetings and public forums held at any time, the board of parks and recreation shall provide regulations to restrict the use of loudspeakers and other devices, so that sound therefrom shall cover only the area where the public forum or public meeting is being conducted and shall not annoy or unduly interfere with the use of the park for other purposes in the areas set aside therefor.
(5) Areas for concerts and theatrical performances:
a. Permits: The board of parks and recreation is authorized and empowered to issue a permit restricting or setting aside all such various areas of the city parks, upon specified and reasonably limited occasions or periods of time, for concerts or theatrical performances or for some other similar purpose, and may prohibit the use of any or all such areas by other persons at any such times, except for such use thereof which is prescribed and then allowed for any such area.
b. Administrative finding: The board of parks and recreation shall require from any person or organization desiring a permit pursuant to subparagraph (5)a. an application which sets forth all relevant information concerning the proposed permit. The board shall not grant such a permit unless the board of parks and recreation affirmatively finds that all of the following standards are met:
1. Adequate sanitation services for the estimated attendance will be available.
2. Adequate parking facilities for the estimated attendance will be available.
3. Permittee shall provide security adequate to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the public.
Failure to have complied with prior permits shall be deemed adequate grounds to deny a permit.
c. Security bond or deposit: The board of parks and recreation, upon the recommendation of the director, may request from any person or organization desiring a permit pursuant to subparagraph (5)a. a security deposit or bond to secure reimbursement to the city of any:
1. Expenses incurred by the city as a result of providing police protection for the persons attending the event for which the permit is requested;
2. Expenses incurred by the city in the form of cleanup expenses or repairs to damaged property, which expenses are incurred as a result of actions of persons attending the event for which the permit is requested.
(6) Toilet facilities: Adequate separate toilet facilities shall be provided and maintained in every park for both sexes. No person of the opposite sex, except children under four (4) years of age in charge of an adult, shall enter any such facility provided for the other sex.
(Code 1975, § 22-20)
Source: Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County, Revised Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/in/indianapolis_-_marion_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIIPUHEWE_CH631PARE_ARTIINGE_S631-120REUSPAFetched: 10/27/2026