Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-1 Applicability.
Sec. 12-84-1. - Applicability.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply in the use of parks and parkways belonging to the city.
(Code 1985, § 23-66; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
PARK, PARKWAY REGULATIONS, AND NAMES
Memphis Code of Ordinances tit. 12, ch. 12-84
in effectMemphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-2 Injuring or picking flowers and plants.
Sec. 12-84-2. - Injuring or picking flowers and plants.
It is unlawful for any person to cut, break or in any way injure or deface any tree, plant or grass or pick any flowers, leaves or nuts, wild or cultivated, in any park.
(Code 1985, § 23-67; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-3 Sales and exhibitions.
Sec. 12-84-3. - Sales and exhibitions.
It is unlawful for any person to expose any article for sale or exhibition in any park or parkway unless previously licensed so to do by the division of park services.
(Code 1985, § 23-68; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-4 Making fires.
Sec. 12-84-4. - Making fires.
It is unlawful for any person to make a fire within any of the parks, parkways, squares or places without special permission from the division of park services.
(Code 1985, § 23-69; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-5 Billposting—Erecting stands or platforms—Meetings.
Sec. 12-84-5. - Billposting—Erecting stands or platforms—Meetings.
It is unlawful for any person to post any bill, placard, notice or other paper upon any structure, erect any structure, stand or platform, or hold any religious or other meetings, or make any oration, or harangue or conduct any ceremony in any park or parkway without previous permission therefor from the division of park services.
(Code 1985, § 23-70; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-6 Permit required for poles and wires.
Sec. 12-84-6. - Permit required for poles and wires.
It is unlawful for any person to erect or have erected any telephone, telegraph, electric or other poles and wires in any of the parks or parkways in the city, except in accordance with a written permit from the division of park services.
(Code 1985, § 23-71; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-7 Indecency or breaches of the peace.
Sec. 12-84-7. - Indecency or breaches of the peace.
It is unlawful for any person to use threatening, abusive or insulting language, or commit any obscene or indecent act thereon, or any act tending to a breach of the public peace in any park or parkway.
(Code 1985, § 23-72; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-8 Animals at large prohibited.
Sec. 12-84-8. - Animals at large prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person to allow to go at large any horse or other animal within any park or parkway, except that dogs may be allowed therein when led by a chain or proper leash not exceeding six feet in length.
(Code 1985, § 23-73; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-9 Bathing, fishing and interfering with birds prohibited.
Sec. 12-84-9. - Bathing, fishing and interfering with birds prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person to bathe or fish in any of the waters or fountains, or cast any substance therein, or disturb or interfere in any way with the fish, birds or animals within any public park, parkway, square or place, except that the division of park services may authorize fishing in one or more of the lakes under its jurisdiction and adopt rules and regulations in respect thereto, and post appropriate signs to give the public notice thereof.
(Code 1985, § 23-74; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-10 Throwing missiles, begging and gaming prohibited.
Sec. 12-84-10. - Throwing missiles, begging and gaming prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person to throw stones or other missiles, or beg or publicly solicit subscriptions or contributions, or tell fortunes, or play games of chance, or climb upon any wall, fence, shelter, seat, statue or other erection in any park or parkway.
(Code 1985, § 23-75; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-11 Applicable park hours.
Sec. 12-84-11. - Applicable park hours.
A. It is unlawful for any person to remain in any park between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. March 15 through October 31, and 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. November 1 through March 14, except on special occasions specifically authorized by the city council.
B. Parks services may, by resolution approved by the city council, set hours varying from regular park hours for an individual park. Parks operating outside of regular park hours shall have a sign clearly posted at the established park entrance(s) indicating special hours.
C. This section shall not apply to downtown area parks maintained and managed by the Riverfront Development Corporation, or any museum, facility or institution maintained on park grounds.
(Code 1985, § 23-76; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000; Ord. No. 5222, 11-5-2007)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-12 Traffic regulations generally.
Sec. 12-84-12. - Traffic regulations generally.
The provisions of title 11 regulating traffic in the use of streets shall apply to the use of all drives in parks and parkways controlled by the city, whether within or without the corporate limits; provided, that if any provision of this chapter is inconsistent with the provisions of Title 11, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail and apply in parks and on parkways.
(Code 1985, § 23-77; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-13 Parking or stopping vehicles in certain places prohibited.
Sec. 12-84-13. - Parking or stopping vehicles in certain places prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person to operate, stop or park any vehicle in the public parks and golf courses of the city except on the roadways therein and on other areas designated by the division of park services for public use provided such prohibition does not apply to golf carts and vehicles authorized by the division of park services.
(Code 1985, § 23-78; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-14 Standing vehicles for hire.
Sec. 12-84-14. - Standing vehicles for hire.
It is unlawful for any person to stand any vehicle for hire in any park or parkway without a permit to do so from the division of park services, and then only at such place as shall be indicated and allowed by the permit.
(Code 1985, § 23-79; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-15 Use of drives and bridle paths generally.
Sec. 12-84-15. - Use of drives and bridle paths generally.
A. It is unlawful for any person to use the drives and bridle paths in public parks and parkways except as provided in section 11-16-17.
B. Animals to be used on either drives or bridle paths in public parks shall be well-broken, and constantly held in such control that they may be easily and quickly turned or stopped. They shall not be allowed to move at a rate of speed on the drives or bridle paths of more than eight miles an hour, and when it shall be deemed necessary to safety, good order, or the general convenience that the speed of an animal or vehicle should be checked, or that it should be stopped, or its course altered, and the officer on duty shall so direct, by gesture or otherwise, such direction shall be obeyed.
(Code 1985, § 23-80; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-16 Position of horses ridden on roads.
Sec. 12-84-16. - Position of horses ridden on roads.
All horsemen going at a walk or slow trot must keep near the curbstone or gutter on the right-hand side of the road while riding in parks or parkways. Those going more rapidly must keep nearer the middle of the road.
(Code 1985, § 23-81; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-17 General regulations to cyclists.
Sec. 12-84-17. - General regulations to cyclists.
Cyclists must not coast in the parks, nor on the parkways or bicycle paths, and must keep their feet on the pedals and their hands on the handlebars and must not mount nor dismount, except on the extreme right of the roads or bicycle paths.
(Code 1985, § 23-82; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-18 Riding more than two abreast.
Sec. 12-84-18. - Riding more than two abreast.
It is unlawful for persons riding horses or bicycles, or operating motorcycles, motor scooters or motor bikes, to ride more than two abreast within any park or parkway in the city.
(Code 1985, § 23-83; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-19 Instruction in operating automobiles, and other vehicles and trick riding prohibited.
Sec. 12-84-19. - Instruction in operating automobiles, and other vehicles and trick riding prohibited.
Instruction in operating automobiles, bicycles, tricycles, motorcycles, velocipedes or other such vehicles of propulsion, and all trick or fancy riding on the same, is prohibited in the parks and parkways at all times.
(Code 1985, § 23-84; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-20 Drinking or sale of beverages with alcoholic content within public park areas and boundaries.
Sec. 12-84-20. - Drinking or sale of beverages with alcoholic content within public park areas and boundaries.
It is unlawful for any person or persons to sell, consume or possess any beverage with alcoholic content in any of the public parks or properties under the jurisdiction of the division of park services, except in such enclosed building or other structures and/or areas as are specifically designated and authorized by the division of park services, provided that the city council may by resolution exempt only persons participating in certain organized civic or charitable activities from the foregoing provisions.
(Code 1985, § 23-85; Ord. No. 4763, 4-25-2000)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-21 Use of helmets required in skate parks.
Sec. 12-84-21. - Use of helmets required in skate parks.
A. It is unlawful for any person to utilize the skate park(s) with skateboards, bicycles, or inline skates without the use of a helmet as a protective measure.
B. Violation of this section shall result in a fine of $50.00, unless otherwise waived at the discretion of the court and dismissed as a warning for a first offender.
(Ord. No. 5423, § 1, 12-6-2011)
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 12-84-22 Method of naming and renaming.
Sec. 12-84-22. - Method of naming and renaming.
When the city shall acquire any public parks and other public recreational areas, for use by the general public, by purchase, condemnation, or dedication, it shall be the duty of the Memphis City Council to select a suitable name for such new public park and other public recreational area. Furthermore, the Memphis City Council may change the official name adopted for existing City of Memphis parks and other recreational areas, by ordinance duly passed. Any conflicts with the Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code shall be made in favor of this section.
(Ord. No. 5759, § 8, 9-1-2020)
Source: City of Memphis, Code of Ordinances and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tn/memphis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT12STSIPUPL_CH12-84PAPARENAFetched: 10/28/2026