Park Rules & Regulations

The term park is defined to mean all lands and water acquired by the City for park or recreational purposes, or placed under the jurisdiction of the Parks Department, and includes parks, parkways, greenways, recreational facilities and structures, and privately owned lands the use of which has been granted or leased to the City for park, recreational, or like public purposes.

Below are some Park Rules and Regulations from Chapter 19 of the City of Oshkosh Municipal Code. Please refer to Chapter 19 of the Municipal Code for additional information.

Park Hours

No person shall be in any park, including pavilions, shelters, and beaches within the City between the hours of 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM with the following exceptions:

  1. The Fox River Riverwalk.
  2. Those portions of the 24th Avenue Boat Launch, Menominee Park, Mill Street Boat Launch, Rainbow Memorial Park, Riverside Park, and William A. Steiger Park which are designated for boat launching, boat launch parking, boat tie-up or fishing purposes when used for those purposes.
  3. Where permission is granted, in writing, by the Common Council for a group to conduct an activity or use specified facilities or buildings for an activity which extends beyond the regular closing hours.
  4. Police, fire, and any other person authorized by the City, in writing, to be in the park.
  5. Any park or part thereof may be declared closed to the public by the Common Council or the Director of Parks at any time and for any interval of time, either temporary or at regular or stated intervals. It shall be unlawful for any person to enter or be present in any park or portion thereof which has been closed to the public.

Use of Park Facilities

Park facilities and park areas may be reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis upon making application to the Parks Department. The schedule of rental facilities and respective fees as established by the Parks Department, and approved by the Common Council, are on file in the Parks Department office and on the city website.

Camping

No person shall camp in any City park in any vehicle which has accommodations for sleeping, or in any tent or sleeping bag in the open, or in any manner unless authorized to do so by waiver issued by the Common Council.

Domesticated Animals

No domesticated animals shall be allowed in the parks, except as follows:

  1. Animals assisting disabled persons and police canines.
  2. Persons will be allowed to have domesticated animals at City Park boat launches, only when being transferred from vehicles to boats, or boats to vehicles. Those domesticated animals shall be on a leash no longer than six feet (6’) and shall be under full control of their owners.
  3. Persons will be allowed to have domesticated animals on the Fox River Riverwalk provided that such domesticated animals shall be on a leash no longer than six feet (6’) and shall be under full control of their owners.
  4. Domesticated animals are only allowed in parks for the purpose of being walked on pass-through walkways or trails and parking lots serving the walkways or trails. Those domesticated animals shall be on a leash no longer than six feet (6’) and shall be under full control of their owners.
  5. Domesticated animals shall not be allowed in City Park buildings, playground areas, picnic shelters, sport/athletic facilities, beaches, zoo, pool, splash pads, cemeteries or special event areas.
  6. Upon waiver granted by the Common Council.
  7. Owners are required to clean up any waste deposited by their domesticated animal and properly dispose of it off-site.

Feeding of Geese and Gulls

The feeding of geese and gulls, or other birds or animals in any City park is strictly prohibited.

Fires

Fires are permitted only in grills unless permission is granted to allow fires in other areas by the Parks Director and Fire Chief.

Amplified Noise

An amplification permit must be secured from the Parks Director or designee prior to using any device to amplify sound in a City park. The use of radios, stereos, or other similar devices is permitted, except that the volume of sound shall be controlled so that it is not unreasonably loud, disturbing, or of such character, intensity, or duration that it is disturbing to any person within the range of audibility. Amplified sound or music shall not be permitted after 10:00 PM.

Glass Containers

Glass beverage containers of any kind are prohibited in all parks unless authorized by the Common Council.

Litter

It is unlawful for any person to leave, throw or break any bottle, box, refuse, or other object, except in clearly marked refuse receptacles provided for that purpose. Where receptacles for rubbish and refuse are not provided, all waste shall be carried away from the park by the person or group responsible for it.

Moving of Park Equipment

No person or group shall remove any bench, seat, table, or any other park equipment from any park or park facility unless prior approval of the Parks Director is obtained.

Regulated Activities

No person shall engage in any athletic contest, game, or activity, except in areas specifically designated for such activity.

Sales in Parks

It is unlawful for any person, organization, group, or association to vend, sell, peddle, or offer for sale any foods, refreshments, commodities, or articles within any park, except by concession agreement or authorization by the Common Council for major operations, or by authorization of the Parks Director for minor operations.

City Fountains

No person shall enter into, swim, bathe, or wade in any City of Oshkosh fountain or allow any privately owned animal to do so. Nor shall any person place, throw, or deposit in any City of Oshkosh fountain any substance or object, except coins.

Skate Park

The use of bikes, scooters, motorized vehicles, or other wheeled devices, except for skateboards or inline skates, is prohibited at the Red Arrow Skate Park.

Fishing

Fishing is prohibited in the following areas of the Fox River Riverwalk:

  1. along the north side of the Riverwalk from Main Street to Jackson Street
  2. along the south side of the Riverwalk from the Oregon Street Bridge east 425 feet
  3. along the south side of the Riverwalk from the Oregon Street Bridge west 1,950 feet

No person shall fish or loiter on or in the Bowen Street Fishing Dock Park from ten o'clock (10:00) P.M. to five o'clock (5:00) A.M. The boundaries of the Bowen Street Fishing Dock Park shall include: 1) that part of the Bowen Street public right-of-way from the back of the curb at the most southerly point of the street and extending to the water; and, 2) the dock structure extending into the water. No person shall fish from any of the City boat launch docks.

Parking and Parking Stall Restrictions

No person shall operate or park any trailer or motor driven vehicle (including without limitation electric scooters, electric personal assistive mobility devices, or motor bicycles) in any City park unless the operation is on paved established roadways and parking lots or unless authorized to do so by the Parks Director or their designee. This provision specifically prohibits the operation or parking of all trailers and motor driven vehicles on all grassy areas and all trails, whether paved or unpaved, including without limitation the Fox River Riverwalk.

Except as otherwise specifically permitted by this code and as designated by appropriate signage, no person shall park a vehicle without a trailer attached within double length stalls in any park or park a vehicle with a trailer attached within single length stalls in any park. Exceptions are as follows:

  1. Vehicles without trailers may use double stalls for parking on weekdays from 8am - 4pm at William Steiger Boat Launch.
  2. Vehicles with trailers may use single stalls for parking from 11pm - 4pm on weekdays and from 11pm - 8am on holidays and weekends at Menominee Park.

Park Suspensions

Separately from any penalties prescribed within this Chapter, Wisconsin State Statutes, or any other applicable rule or regulation, the Director of Parks, or his/her designee, may suspend the park privileges of any person found to be in violation of city ordinances, state statutes, or other applicable rules and regulations within city parks. The decision of the Director of Parks shall be final and the City elects not to be bound by the provisions of Chapter 68, Wisconsin Statutes, with respect to administrative procedure in this regard.